Last Friday U.S. Representative August Pfluger visited Brownwood, after just returning home from Washington D.C. the night before.  In a meeting with local business persons, he discussed several topics, including the Federal budget, inflation, immigration, energy, and agriculture.

Pfluger announced that he was just elected Chairman of the Republican Study Committee, “the largest, the oldest, and the most influential policy organization in Congress.  We meet every week.  We all want tax cuts.  There is zero disagreement there.”  He mentioned that President Trump wants no income taxes on tips, overtime pay, and Social Security.  While there is some support for those proposals, it is not universal.

Responding to a question about inflation and the role the Federal Reserve played, Pfluger said “Having a Federal Reserve that is outside of fiscal policy is a good thing… I don’t think any President should tell the Federal Reserve what to do.  They should act as an independent agency… outside of politics.  What they have done the last four years added to the problem.”

Concerning the border and illegal immigration, Pfluger said that Congress will spend $150 billion to secure the border.  He mentioned that a federal detention center in Colorado City, Texas will be used to house immigrants who are here without permission, and who have a history of violent crime.  From there they will be deported to their home countries via flights from Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene.

Most of Pfluger’s time was spent talking about the Federal budget and budget deficit.  Just the night before Congress had passed a resolution containing the outlines of a plan for the Federal budget, and for the reduction of deficit spending.  “This will be the biggest piece of legislation in the past forty or fifty years” concerning the budget and deficit spending.  In 2017 Congress reduced income tax rates, but that rate reduction is due to expire at the end of this year, absent action from Congress.  “Extending those tax cuts, making as many as we can permanent, is really important… Last night they (Congress) passed a resolution that gave Congress the instructions for every committee to find savings, cut spending, or create revenue.  We were able to come to an agreement that said Yes we are going to extend the tax cuts.  But we are also going to go into every single committee and jurisdiction and find savings.”  Pfluger said that the agreement reached the night before “basically said we are going to save at least $1.5 trillion (over ten years).  This is the biggest attempt to cut our deficit in fifty years.”

Pfluger said that the budget, of course, deals with many issues.  “We have a southern border that is completely undefended.  We have an American energy industry that has been assaulted in every way.  We have so, so many things we need to get done.”  The budget will probably have to be passed through a process known as Budget Reconciliation.  All budget bills originate in the House of Representatives, which requires a simple majority to pass a bill.  The Republicans hold a slim majority in the House.  The Senate requires sixty votes to pass a bill, but the Republicans have a slim majority of only 53 Senators.  That’s where the Budget Reconciliation process comes in.  “When the House and Senate can reconcile their budget differences… the Senate has a rule that allows them to pass the bill with 51 votes.”

In concluding his remarks, Pfluger said “So we have come to an agreement.  We’re going to secure the border.  We’re going to unleash American energy.  We’re going to make sure we find some savings.  I am really excited.”

After his meeting with the business persons, Congressman Pfluger toured the new Brownwood Event Center, then met with students at Howard Payne University.