Columns

After 16 days of stalemate, Congress and the President agreed to temporarily reopen the government and avoid default. While this solution is far from ideal, it was the only remaining option to continue negotiations over our long term fiscal challenges, including the President’s health care law.

As the government shutdown continues, Nebraskans and all Americans are rightfully frustrated – I am too. President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid must agree to negotiate on reopening the government and addressing the debt ceiling.

Unable to reach an agreement on a continuing resolution, the federal government went into a partial shutdown on October 1st. This situation is far from ideal, and Americans and Nebraskans are rightly frustrated. We would all like to see this situation resolved quickly, which will require both sides to negotiate.

Identity theft is a growing problem affecting millions of Americans each year. This crime occurs when individuals use your personal information without your consent to commit fraud or other financial crimes.

Congress is currently facing several major issues which need to be addressed. We need to agree on legislation to keep the government operating before the end of the fiscal year. The President’s ill-conceived health care law is set to launch on October 1, even though it is clearly not ready to be implemented. And we are once again quickly approaching the federal debt limit.

On August 21st, nearly 1,500 men, women, and children were killed in a chemical weapons attack in the suburbs of Damascus, Syria. This horrific attack is just the latest atrocity in a brutal civil war between forces supporting dictator Bashar Al-Assad and various rebel groups which has left as many as 100,000 Syrians dead and millions displaced.

The Labor Day holiday is now behind us, marking the traditional end of summer and the beginning of a new school year for students. As students head back to the classroom, Nebraskans should be aware of several resources and opportunities available through my office.