Jason Smith
Jason Smith (R-MO) represents the eighth congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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A new era in the fight to rein in executive overreach (8/14/24)As someone who strongly believes that the best government is that which is closest to the people, I’m incredibly frustrated by how much the federal government has grown since our nation was founded nearly 250 years ago. Whenever the Left is in control of Washington, they do everything they can to force their values on the rest of America – and the biggest tool they have is the Washington bureaucracy. Whether they’re trying to ban gas powered vehicles, dictating what you can or can’t do on your land, or even deciding what kind of appliances you can purchase for your home, there is no limit to how far they will go to expand government command and control.
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No matter how you look at it, the Biden-Harris administration has been an absolute disaster (8/7/24)No matter how you look at it, the Biden-Harris administration has been an absolute disaster. We have a southern border that’s in pure chaos because of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’s radical immigration policies. The cost of living has skyrocketed by more than 20% since Biden and Harris took office and began their out-of-control spending spree. There is no question America isn’t heading in the right direction. And when you look back at the policies of this administration, it’s clear as day why our nation is at a breaking point.
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A massive scandal (7/31/24)For the last three and a half years, Republicans have been sounding the alarm over President Joe Biden’s fitness for office. His incoherent speeches, disastrous policies, physical struggles, and blank stares are just a few of the signs we’ve seen. There is nothing wrong with getting old – it’s part of life. But it’s a completely different scenario when we’re talking about the president of the United States – the most powerful person in the world.
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Saved by the hand of God (7/23/24)On July 13, the nation watched with horror when a crazed shooter attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump. The fact that he survived this attack can only be described as a miracle. While I’m incredibly grateful the former president is safe, it’s tragic that a murderous nut job took the life of an innocent father and seriously injured two others. ...
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Saved by the hand of God (7/22/24)On July 13, the nation watched with horror when a crazed shooter attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump. The fact that he survived this attack can only be described as a miracle. While I’m incredibly grateful the former president is safe, it’s tragic that a murderous nut job took the life of an innocent father and seriously injured two others. ...
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All options must be on the table to deliver tax relief (7/10/24)Republicans are already hard at work to once again deliver for working families and small businesses by building on the success of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act next year. The 2017 tax law is a blueprint for prosperity that should be made permanent, and all options are on the table to ensure the biggest winners continue to be low- and middle-income people.
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Cracking down on organizations that fund terrorism (6/18/24)On June 8, the Israeli military launched a daring mission to free four hostages who were held captive for months by evil Hamas terrorists in Gaza. I’m incredibly grateful that these innocent people are safe and back at home with their families, and I pray that the other hostages – including Americans – will also come home soon.
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Fighting back against Biden’s two-tiered justice system (6/13/24)The day the verdict was reached in New York v. Trump will go down as a dark day in our nation’s history. The former president was convicted and could be thrown in jail over charges that should have never been brought against him in the first place. This case was led by a left-wing prosecutor who ran for office promising to bring charges against Trump; it was overseen by a left-wing judge whose own daughter was helping Democrat politicians fundraise off the trial; and it was held in one of the most liberal cities in America. ...
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Rooting out antisemitism on campus (5/16/24)Like so many Americans, I have been absolutely appalled by the rampant antisemitism we’re seeing on college campuses. It’s unacceptable that in America in 2024, vicious mobs are harassing, chasing down, and blocking students from entering buildings on college campuses because of their Jewish faith. And let me be clear: these mobs aren’t anti-war protestors; they are terrorist-supporting hate groups.
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House Republicans challenge Biden’s economic policies amid rising living costs (5/10/24)Last week, President Biden called for the expiration of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, President Trump’s signature legislation that jump started the best economy of my lifetime and that continues to provide needed tax relief to working families today. In one statement, the president promised American workers, families, farmers, and small businesses that they would see their taxes go up – breaking his promise that families making less than $400,000 would not receive a tax increase...
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Protecting rural Missouri from the Left's costly climate agenda (4/3/24)On President Joe Biden’s first day in office, he declared war on American energy by cancelling the Keystone XL pipeline, which would have supported thousands of jobs and supplied 830,000 barrels of oil from Canada to U.S. refineries. It’s gotten even worse since then. While his radical, costly energy agenda is popular among the wealthy and most radical fringe of his party, it’s been a complete disaster for working-class Americans who are struggling to keep up with higher costs for everything from the gas they put in their cars, the groceries they buy to feed their families, and the furniture and appliances they purchase for their home. And as his new electric vehicle (EV) policy makes clear, he has no intention of abandoning his costly climate agenda.
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The dangerous consequences of Biden's border crisis (3/26/24)In mid-March, an illegal immigrant was arrested for viciously stabbing two people outside a laundromat in O'Fallon, Mo. It's just one of the many examples of the dangerous consequences of President Joe Biden's border crisis, which has turned every state into a border state. Unfortunately, Biden continues to ignore Americans' concerns and their demands for this administration to do what's necessary to end this crisis and make our border -- and communities -- safe again...
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Biden's budget plan is the wrong recipe for America (3/19/24)President Joe Biden frequently says, "Don't tell me what you value. Show me your budget, and I'll tell you what you value." Well, as Biden's recently released budget proposal for next year makes clear, he is once again doubling down on the very same failed policies that are bankrupting America, waging war on U.S. energy, and fueling the most painful economic crisis in decades. There's no question that his budget plan is the wrong recipe for America...
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The most divisive State of the Union address in U.S. history (3/13/24)On March 7, President Joe Biden delivered a State of the Union address that will go down as the most divisive in American history. He turned the annual tradition into a campaign event, launching attack after attack against his political opponent and rural communities. ...
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Celebrating FFA (2/28/24)Like so many in southeast and south-central Missouri, agriculture has always been an important part of my life. I'll never forget the memories I have as a young kid spending time at, and working on, my grandparents' farm -- the very same one I own, operate, and live on today. ...
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Tax relief for Missouri’s working-class families (2/14/24)Tax relief for Missouri's working-class families When my colleagues selected me to lead the Ways and Means Committee in Congress, which has responsibility for writing our tax laws, I promised that my number one priority would be looking out for the interests of working-class Americans, small businesses, and family farmers. ...
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The invasion at the southern border (2/6/24)Right now, our nation is facing an unprecedented border crisis. In just December alone, more than 300,000 illegal immigrants were caught trying to cross our southern border -- the most ever in one month and a 300% increase from December 2020 when President Donald Trump was in office. In total, there have been more than 10 million illegal border entries under President Joe Biden...
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Fighting to deliver pro-growth, pro-family and pro-America tax reform (2/1/24)After President Donald Trump took office in 2017, he and I worked hand-in-hand to put together a tax reform bill that would put American workers, families, farmers, and small businesses first. What we came up with was the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), landmark legislation that led to a nearly 5% increase in wages for American workers, a full 1% increase in economic growth over the average of the previous decade, and the lowest unemployment and poverty rates in 50 years...
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Combating antisemitism on campus (1/17/24)During a recent congressional hearing exploring how deep anti-Jewish feelings run on college campuses, the presidents of Harvard, MIT, and Pennsylvania were called on to denounce calls for genocide against the Jewish people occurring at their institutions. ...
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Protecting women's sports from the Left's gender ideology (1/10/24)Southeast and south-central Missouri is home to so many incredibly talented athletes. They spend hours upon hours training to be the best version of themselves while also taking care of business in the classroom, keeping up with chores at home, or going to work at night. ...
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The fight to secure the border (1/5/24)Over the last few years, Americans have been shouting at the top of their lungs for the Biden administration to take action to end the chaos on our border. Yet time and again, leaders on the Left have claimed the border is secure and President Biden has taken actions that only made the crisis even worse. ...
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Keeping our promises to the American people (12/30/23)Happy New Year! This is a time where we reflect on the last 12 months and look ahead to what's in store for the upcoming year. Whether it's the economy or the border, Americans have faced crisis after crisis ever since President Joe Biden took office. But the good news is that thanks to the American people voting in a Republican House majority, we've taken important steps to help undo the damage the Left inflicted on our nation...
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The true meaning of Christmas (12/23/23)There's truly nothing like Christmas. It's a special time of the year where we gather around with family and loved ones and take part in our favorite traditions, whether it's singing along to beautiful hymns in church, making a cookie recipe passed down through generations, or sitting down at the dinner table for a delicious feast. But the most important thing is to remember why we celebrate this joyous day each year: the birth of Jesus Christ...
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Fighting to get Americans the answers they deserve (12/13/23)Back in January, just weeks after my colleagues selected me to lead the House Ways and Means Committee, one of the first actions I took was to setup a whistleblower hotline to give IRS personnel a safe and confidential way to share information about misconduct they have witnessed involving the agency. ...
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Protecting our rural values and way of life (12/6/23)Here in southeastern and south-central Missouri, we're very blessed to live in an area that's home to some of the best hunting found anywhere in the state. While we always set out hoping for a successful day, what makes hunting really special is that it's an opportunity to spend time with friends and family, making memories we'll never forget. ...
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Fighting back against antisemitism (11/29/23)In the aftermath of the Oct. 7 terror attack in Israel, antisemitic incidents in the U.S. have skyrocketed by 316% compared to the same time last year. We've seen massive hate-filled rallies in cities and on college campuses across the nation with people celebrating Hamas and calling for the elimination of Israel. ...
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Sounding the alarm on our border problem (11/8/23)At a recent Senate hearing, FBI Director Christopher Wray told lawmakers that Hamas' terror attack on Israel has given terrorists inspiration "the likes of which we haven't seen" since the rise of ISIS. He added that the ongoing war in the Middle East has raised the threat of an attack here at home "to a whole new level." Amid the major threat we face, the federal government must use every tool available to keep Americans safe. ...
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Fighting back against the Left and Big Tech's attacks on free speech (10/31/23)Americans are growing increasingly alarmed over the Left's relentless efforts to force their values, ideals and way of life onto the rest of society, whether it's in the classroom, the media and even the health care system. And as we have seen over the last decade, Big Tech has become one of the Left's most powerful tools in forcing their radical values and beliefs on the rest of America. ...
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Hamas' attack exposes trouble on college campuses (10/25/23)On Oct. 7, Hamas terrorists murdered innocent Israeli civilians in attacks that included rape, torture and beheadings. It was a disgusting violation of the most basic morality. Any country whose civilians had been attacked in such a manner would and should be well within their rights to target and dismantle an enemy that would act in such a manner. Indeed, the United States stands in complete support of Israel's right to eliminate this terrorist threat on their border...
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Standing with Israel (10/17/23)On Oct. 7, barbaric Hamas terrorists stormed into Israel and committed the worst Jewish massacre since the Holocaust. Over a thousand civilians -- mothers, fathers, children, grandparents and babies -- were murdered in cold blood by Iran-backed Hamas terrorists. ...
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The painful reality of Bidenomics (10/11/23)On October 6, the Commerce Department announced economic statistics that exceeded expectations, with more jobs created in the month of September than analysts had predicted. But one jobs report doesn't capture the reality of what life is like in today's economy -- where gas prices are on the rise, mortgage rates are the highest they've been in over 20 years, and families are experiencing the most painful cost-of-living crisis in decades...
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Restore law and order (10/4/23)Not a day goes by without seeing the devastating consequences of the Left's disregard for the rule of law. Right now, liberal cities are grappling with an unprecedented rise in coordinated mob-style looting sprees, where dozens of criminals band together to steal thousands of dollars' worth of goods and even ATM machines. ...
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Tackling the rural health care crisis (9/29/23)For too long, Congress has allowed special interests and the politically connected to shape health care policies and legislation. As a result, we have a health care system that puts corporate interests -- not patients -- first. And no one has felt the consequences more than our rural communities, where the average life span is shorter compared to bigger towns and cities...
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The American people deserve the truth (9/21/23)On Sept. 12, Speaker Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) announced that after spending months of following the facts, the U.S. House of Representatives will formally open an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. This is the natural next step the House needs to take to continue an investigation into how Joe Biden abused public office for his family's financial gain...
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Secure the border (9/14/23)From day one of Joe Biden's presidency, Republicans have fought tooth and nail to advance the policies we need to secure our southern border. Yet at every step of the way, Biden and Washington Democrats have blocked our commonsense efforts to make our border secure again like it was under President Donald Trump. And the consequences of the Left's actions -- or lack thereof -- are absolutely alarming...
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Farm Tour is an August tradition in Southeast Missouri (9/8/23)Every August, I visit farms, ranches and agriculture businesses across Missouri's 8th Congressional District as part of my Farm Tour. The annual tradition is an opportunity to not only showcase these families, farms and small businesses, but also to learn more about the challenges they face with the federal government, whether it's trade, federal regulations or the sky-high costs of everything from feed and fertilizer to energy and farm equipment...
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Leaving no stone unturned (8/29/23)When the American people entrusted Republicans with the responsibility of running the House of Representatives, we promised to use every tool at our disposal to hold this administration accountable to the American people. Unsurprisingly, the Biden administration has stonewalled our efforts to get Americans the answers they deserve about the numerous scandals and crises that have come out of this White House. ...
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The IRA: A win for the wealthy, billion-dollar companies, and the CCP (8/25/23)It has been one year since President Joe Biden and Washington Democrats passed their signature Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) -- a massive transfer of tax dollars from working families to the wealthy, big banks, billion-dollar companies, and the Chinese Communist Party. ...
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The truth about Bidenomics (8/9/23)Working-class Americans just cannot catch a break in the Biden economy. Millions are struggling to get by as they face the one-two punch of higher prices and rising interest rates. And it's all thanks to Washington Democrats' reckless $10 trillion spending spree, which sent the spike in consumer prices to a 40-year high and drove the Federal Reserve into a corner where their only solution is to make borrowing for a house, your farm, a car or to grow a business far more expensive...
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Accountability for Washington (7/26/23)For two years under one-party Democrat control of Congress and the White House, the American people were left completely in the dark about the numerous scandals and crises that have plagued President Joe Biden's administration. But since being elected by the American people to the majority, over the last seven months, House Republicans have launched numerous investigations to hold the administration accountable and get the American people the answers they deserve...
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Biden M.I.A. on trade (7/20/23)On July 10, the Ways and Means Committee held a hearing at a cattle auction barn in Kimball, Minnesota, to hear directly from farmers and ranchers in the community about how America's trade policies affect their daily lives and what Congress can do to make trade work better for their families. ...
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A win for the working class (7/11/23)Under the Biden administration, working-class Americans have seen trillions of their hard-earned tax dollars go toward policies and programs that disproportionately benefit the wealthy and well connected. A perfect example of Washington Democrats preference for elites was President Joe Biden's student loan cancellation scheme, which would have transferred up to $20,000 in student loan debt per borrower onto all taxpayers and cost an estimated $400 billion. ...
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Delay, divulge and deny (6/28/23)For years, Hunter Biden has made headline after headline for everything from his reckless behavior to his involvement in shady business dealings. And at every step of the way, Americans have demanded their leaders look into the many examples of where it seems Hunter Biden has gotten away with committing crimes that would send the average American to jail. ...
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A two-tiered justice system (6/20/23)Over the last several years Americans have watched the Left do everything they could to take down President Donald Trump. There was the Russia-Trump collusion conspiracy theory, where Washington Democrats teamed up with the liberal media to go after Trump. ...
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A lifeline for rural America (6/15/23)Decades ago, a bright 16-year old from Cape Girardeau began working at a local AM radio station, unaware that this job would change his life -- and American politics -- in the years to come. That young man was southeast Missouri's own Rush Limbaugh -- the most influential talk radio host in American history. While he's no longer with us in the flesh, his legacy and fight to give Americans an alternative to the liberal media is alive and well today...
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Honoring our fallen heroes (5/27/23)As Americans, we are incredibly fortunate to live in the freest nation in the world. But America wouldn't be the nation it is today without the countless sacrifices of our military men and women. President Ronald Reagan once said, "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. ...
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Standing with our men and women in blue (5/23/23)National Police Week is an important opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to our men and women in blue who serve our communities. Here in southern Missouri, we have the utmost respect for our local law enforcement. We know that when an emergency strikes, they will rush in to save lives when everyone else is running away. Southern Missouri is a safe and great place to raise a family thanks to our men and women in blue...
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The road to recovery (4/25/23)The road to recovery Early in the morning on April 5, a powerful tornado tore through Bollinger County leaving a seemingly endless path of destruction. Dodging downed power lines and other dangerous situations, neighbors and first responders rushed in immediately to search for victims and save lives. ...
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Getting the IRS off the backs of hardworking families (4/19/23)Every April when Americans file their taxes, they're reminded just how much of their hard-earned money goes straight into Uncle Sam's pocket. On top of that, they have the added headache of having to worry that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will come after them if they make a mistake when filling out the seemingly endless paperwork. ...
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Taking government's boot off American-made energy (4/4/23)Record breaking gas costs. Double digit increases in utility bills. These are the painful consequences of President Joe Biden's pursuit of an energy strategy that rewards his wealthy environmentalist friends, allies and donors -- consequences that disproportionately hurt working-class Americans and small businesses. ...
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Another preventable crisis (3/29/23)Pure chaos. That’s the best way to describe the situation on our southern border. President Joe Biden has spent his entire presidency taking a sledgehammer to the Trump administration’s effective border policies. Biden inherited a border that was the most secure it had ever been, but within his first 100 days in office, he issued 94 executive actions impacting immigration — including ending construction of President Donald Trump’s border wall — something which had received bipartisan funding approval in Congress. ...
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It's time to partner with the American people (3/20/23)When I became chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, I promised that I'd partner with the American people to deliver solutions to the many crises facing families, farmers and millions of working-class Americans. That's why I brought the Ways and Means Committee to Yukon, Oklahoma, recently to hear directly from working Americans about the state of our nation's economy in the Heartland...
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Reining in Biden's secretive $1 trillion spending spree (3/7/23)Last week, House Republicans took an important step in our efforts to hold President Joe Biden accountable for his wasteful spending that is fueling the worst spike in prices in a generation. With the support of 59 Democrats, the House came together to pass my Reduce Exacerbated Inflation Negatively Impacting the Nation (REIN IN) Inflation Act. That's right -- even House Democrats are sounding the alarm over Biden's out-of-control spending...
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Fighting back against Biden's war on American energy (2/3/23)Under President Joe Biden's leadership, Americans never seem to get a break from the spiraling prices they face. Now, they are beginning to see the price for gasoline rising higher and higher -- again. This is troubling news for working-class families who are struggling just to put food on the table, clothes on their backs, and gasoline in their cars because of the cost-of-living crisis, which Washington Democrats created with their reckless, $10 trillion spending spree. ...
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Standing for life (1/24/23)January 22 marks the 50th anniversary since the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade. This somber anniversary provides so many Missourians the opportunity to rededicate ourselves to fighting for the unborn. 2022 was a momentous year for those of us who believe life is a precious miracle from God...
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Government overreach at its worst (1/12/23)President Ronald Reagan once said, "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government, and I'm here to help." He was exactly right. Government bureaucrats love to claim that the red tape they put in place is supposed to be for the greater good. ...
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Shepherds in the field (12/20/22)Merry Christmas! It's the special time of year when we gather together with our treasured holiday traditions and celebrate the birth of Jesus. Many of us have fond childhood memories of decorating the Christmas tree, volunteering to help the needy, or baking grandma's secret Christmas cookie recipe. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year...
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Big tech's endless attacks on the First Amendment (12/15/22)For years, conservatives have suspected that Big Tech has worked to silence their viewpoints and ensure that liberal ideology is dominant across the Internet. On Twitter, prominent conservatives have been censored, either where topics that are generating enormous interest on the platform are prevented from reaching widespread audiences or where accounts are suspended altogether for no apparent reason...
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The truth about the border (12/8/22)Over the last two years, we have watched President Joe Biden and his administration make a mockery out of our nation's border security. Because of his refusal to enforce the law or keep in place strong policies adopted under the Trump administration, record numbers of illegal immigrants have crossed the border. ...
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Reining in big government (12/1/22)"The least government is the best government. We should have just as little as we can get along with." Those are the wise words of Harry S Truman, a proud Missouri native and America's 33rd president. It's been several decades since he spoke those words, yet they still ring true today. ...