Dennis Ross RSS Articles

The Ledger: Support Ross on 2 Issues

Mon, 14 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Rep. Dennis A. Ross, R-Lakeland, is asking for your support on two important issues:

First is to support to defund the new soccer fields and recreational facilities for Guantanamo Bay.

Second is to stop President Barack Obama's plan of raising health care premiums on veterans and active-duty soldiers...It is of most importance to support Rep. Ross on these two important issues...(read more)

FoxNews: It's All Your Money - Taxpayers May Be on the Hook for Postal Service Losses

Mon, 14 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

The U.S. Postal Service is often the butt of jokes, but there's nothing funny about the agency's bottom line.

The USPS is losing up to $25 million dollars a day. Until now, taxpayers have not been on the hook for its mounting losses, but that could be about to change. A bill recently approved by the Senate would appropriate $34 billion in federal money.

"If the post office was a business, it would be in bankruptcy," said Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla. "It's insolvent." (read more)

SPECIAL - Taxpayer Calculator - How Much Will a Postal Bailout Cost YOU!

JOB FAIR - Congressman Ross Hosts Third Job Fair This Wednesday

Mon, 14 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Washington, DC – Congressman Dennis A. Ross (R-FL) will host a job fair, in two days, May 16, 2012 at the Polk State College campus in Lakeland, Florida. This event, hosted in conjunction with Polk Works, will showcase dozens of local, statewide, national and international employers looking to hire.

Open to the General Public from 11am – 3pm. VETERANS may enter early at 10am.

Last year, Congressman Ross hosted a job fair in both Hillsborough and Polk Counties. This year, the first fair will be in Polk, with a Hillsborough Job Fair taking place on August 16, 2012 at Rasmussen College in Brandon.

While the job market is tight, spotlighting local employers who are hiring is part of Congressman Ross’ strategy to put Americans back to work. As of June 3rd, the following employers have agreed to participate:

Acts Inc

Adecco

AGLA-American General Life

Air Force

Brighthouse

Carpenter Co.

Centerline

Central Florida Health Care Inc.

CertiTemp

CITIZEN CPR, INC

Citrus Connection

City of Lakeland

City of Winter Haven

Clarke and Daughtrey Medical

Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola Refreshments

Colorado Boxed Beef Co

Edward Jones

FBI

FL Department of Transportation

Flanders Precisionaire

Florida Highway Patrol

Florida National Guard

Florida's Natural

Fortis Institute

FranNet of Greater Tampa Bay

Free Child ID Kit Program

Gatorade - PBC

GC Services

GEICO

Greenovative Homes LLC

HB Leisure

Henkels & McCoy

J. Rank Electric

JC Machine Inc

JDC Development, LLC

Keiser University

Knight Transportation

Labor Solutions

Liberty National

Lowes-Lake Wales Store

McKesson Pharmaceutical

MDT Personnel

Metromont

Modern Woodmen of America

Northwestern Mutual Fin Network

One Life America

Peace River Center

Pepperidge Farm

Polk County BoCC HR

Polk County Sheriff's Office

Polk County Transit Services

Polk State College

Polk State College HR dept

Pro HR Staffing

Racetrac

Rainbow Early Learning Inc

Regis Hair Salons

ResCare Workforce Services

Rita Staffing

Savannah Cottage

Save a Lot

Securitas

Select Staffing

Social Security Administration

Spartan Staffing

Spherion Staffing

SYKES Enterprises, Inc.

The Estates at Carpenters

TransDevelopment

Trilogi Inc

Urban Trust Bank

US Foods

USCIS - DHS

Volunteer Polk

Watson Clinic

Western-Southern Life

Woodmen of the World Life Ins

In announcing this job fair, Congressman Ross said, “My staff and Polk Works have assembled this outstanding and diverse group of employers. Employers who are actively hiring with open positions in our District. It is inspiring to see companies surviving and even expanding in the current economical climate and it is now up to the government to get out of the way.”

“It is my mission to ensure Washington sets policies that enable employers to grow, and to use the resources at my disposal to link willing employers with willing workers in my District. No matter the issue, having a job gives you a sense of self, enables you to participate in your community and gives you a vested interest in the way your government operates. I will not rest until every searching job-seeker has a job and every employer has an environment that is less regulated and burdened by our government so that they can expand our economy and hire those individuals willing to work.”

Dennis Ross, son of Bill and Loyola Ross, was born in 1959 and raised in Lakeland, Florida. He graduated from Auburn University and the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. He has served as in-house counsel to the Walt Disney Company and as an associate of the law firm of Holland & Knight. He previously served in the Florida Legislature from 2000 until being term limited in 2008. Dennis and his wife, Cindy Hartley, were married in 1983 and have two sons, Shane and Travis.

In the 112^th Congress, Dennis serves on the Committee on Oversight & Government Reform (Chairman of the Federal Workforce, Postal Service & Labor Policy Subcommittee) as well as the Education & the Workforce and Judiciary Committees.

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Ross Statement on 2nd Quarter USPS Losses

Thu, 10 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congressman Dennis A. Ross (R-FL), Chairman of the Federal Workforce, Postal Service & Labor Policy Oversight issued the following statement in response to the United States Postal Service announcement that it lost $3.2 billion in the second quarter of this fiscal year- $1 billion more than the same quarter last year:

"The Postal Service continues to lose money at a staggering rate of $25 million a day. Today’s announcement is yet another clear example that Congress needs to put the public interest ahead of special interests, and let USPS adapt to the changes the American people have already made. Unfortunately, the recent Senate-passed bill would actually make things worse for the Postal Service – because it will stop USPS from almost all necessary cost-cutting measures. With USPS running out of cash, Congress must be willing to make hard decisions to let USPS modernize. Only the House bill allows this to happen.”

Washington Post: The Senate Mails it in

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

THERE ARE THREE ways to evaluate the Senate’s newly adopted plan to deal with the financial crisis at the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), which is losing more than $20 million per day and has almost exhausted its $15 billion credit line from the Treasury.

One is to compare the bill with what’s politically possible. By that standard, the bill helpfully trims the Postal Service’s workforce — which accounts for 77 percent of costs — by 100,000 over the next three years, mostly through early-retirement incentives. The legislation also would eliminate some of USPS’s debt to the Treasury and stretch out payments to a retiree health-care fund, saving billions more. And it passed with an admirably bipartisan majority of 62 votes.

By a more important measure, what the Postal Service actually needs to be solvent, the Senate bill falls disastrously short. In February, USPS management spelled out a five-year plan to cut $20 billion in costs and restore long-term viability. The plan required ending mandatory Saturday delivery, downsizing a bloated network of mail-processing facilities and restructuring the employee health insurance program. The Senate bill enacts none of these reforms...(read more)

Madison Project: Another Capitulation on Postal Reform

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Later on, Senator McCain proposed a substitute amendment (S. 1625), which would create a new postal oversight board (similar to BRAC) to close $3 billion worth of facilities over a two-year period and seize financial authority over the Postal Service if it defaults with more than a $2 billion deficit for more than two years. It would also allow them to make reforms, such as ending Saturday delivery. This will ensure that the USPS either succeeds on its own merits or becomes a private entity – free of government regulations, but also free of its government-sponsored monopoly on first class mail. The bill closely mirrors the Issa-Ross bill in the House. Yet, once again 16 Republicans joined with Democrats to defeat this modest reform bill.

This is going to be a long week on the Hill….(read more)

Press Release: What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas…Except GSA Waste. That’ll Come Back With You

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON- Congressman Dennis Ross (FL-12) today introduced Government Spending Accountability Act (HR 4472), echoing Simpson-Bowles recommendations[1], to bring federal travel budgets back to reality.

The GSA Act:

Reduces travel budgets of every agency[2] 50% (from 2012 levels) for FY 2013-14
Reduces the travel budgets of every agency[3] 75% (from 2012 levels) for FY 2015
No later than 30 days after the beginning of fiscal years 2014-2016, the head of each agency shall submit a report to the Oversight and Government Reform Committee in the House and the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in the Senate detailing the total travel expenses paid or reimbursed by that agency.
The report shall include all dates, locations and costs of such travel.
Agencies dealing with national security and public safety are exempted[4].

Upon introducing this legislation, Congressman Ross said, “The GSA Vegas vacation is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to wasteful spending. In a day and age when you can FaceTime from Beijing to Washington, text and call from one end of the globe to another, and the American taxpayer faces trillion dollar deficits, spending $15 billion a year on travel is a luxury that is both no longer necessary and no longer affordable.”

Congressman Ross concluded, “As the Simpson Bowles Commission pointed out, ‘despite advances in technology, federal travel costs have ballooned in recent years, growing 56 percent between 2001 and 2006 alone.’ At the same time, budgets for all federal agencies grew at two to three times inflation from 2000 – 2012. The American taxpayer has had enough and before we start talking about raising or changing taxes, we need to go over the federal budget piece by piece and put an end to duplicative, wasteful or downright stupid spending. Zero based budgeting, biennial budgeting, sunset committees, pension reform and so much more is needed now. This is a start worth tens of billions over ten years. This is a no-brainer.”

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[1] Simpson-Bowles proposed prohibiting each agency from spending more than 80 percent of its FY 2010 travel budget and requires agencies to do more through teleconferencing and telecommuting

[2]Exempts Dept of Defense, FBI, Marshals Service, ATF, CIS, Secret Service, DEA, US Capitol Police & The Federal Air Marshal Service

[3] Id

[4] Id

The Hill: GOP lawmaker looks to slash travel budgets in wake of GSA scandal

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

A Florida GOP lawmaker wants to cut federal agency travel budgets in half in response to the GSA scandal.

Freshman Rep. Dennis Ross on Monday introduced legislation to slash federal agency travel budgets by 50 percent for the next two fiscal years. Ross said the significant cuts were necessary after revelations of lavish spending by a branch of the General Services Administration.

Details about the GSA spending, which included pricey sushi dinners and wines, has led to the resignation of senior GSA officials amid an ongoing congressional probe...(read more)

The Shark Tank: Congressman Ross to Introduce Bill Requiring Oversight on ‘Junkets’

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Like many of other Americans disgusted with government spending, Congressman Dennis Ross is appalled over the recent discovery that the General Services Administration (GSA) had lavishly spent tax payer dollars on junkets like the now famous ‘Vegas’ trip that has recently moved to the center of controversy.

Ross says that he is working on legislation that will bring accountability and transparency, and also will require congressional oversight that limits trips that are on the government dime such as the one the now infamous GSA conference in Las Vegas...(read more)

Press Release: Dennis Ross Supports a "Balanced Approach"

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON- Congressman Dennis Ross (FL-12) today introduced the Responsibly And Professionally Invigorating Development (RAPID) Act (HR 4377) to create jobs by streamlining the federal permitting process.

Upon introducing this legislation, Congressman Ross said, “I’ve heard from many small business owners, manufacturers, miners, and farmers in my district who are ready to break ground and put our fellow citizens back to work but can't because of constant delays and red-tape. Federal permitting should be efficient and informed. Small business owners, manufacturers, miners, farmers, and all job creators need certainty in the regulatory process. In addition, groups and individuals with environmental concerns should be partners in the process, not last -minute impediments to approved projects. And the legal process must remain open to those who make good faith efforts to resolve differences during the approval process, not to those who just want to abuse the justice system as a delaying tactic.”

Among other reforms, the RAPID Act:

Sets a 4.5 year-maximum deadline to complete the review process, including an 18 month maximum for the Environmental Assessment and 36 month maximum for an Environmental Impact Statement
Establishes a 180-day statute of limitations and a “get in or get out” rule that requires interested parties to comment and involve themselves early on in the process to maintain standing to bring a lawsuit later
Allows lead agencies to accept existing relevant environmental documents, including those prepared under state laws that satisfy or exceed National Environmental Policy Act standards
Adopts established concepts, definitions and best practices to ensure that the federal review and permitting process is efficient and transparent

Ross concluded, “I’m honored to have the support of Chairman Lamar Smith of the full Judiciary Committee as well as Chairman Howard Coble of the Subcommittee on Courts, Commercial and Administrative Law, on which I am honored to serve. Chairmen Smith and Coble are dedicated to the economic well being of their constituents and I look forward to working with them, and our friends on the other side of the aisle, to bring this common sense reform to the floor.”

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) requires agencies to analyze “major Federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.” There are no time limits on the process, which can take many years—especially if agencies are recalcitrant or if politics take precedence. Additionally, the statute of limitations to challenge in court an agency’s environmental review is six years. These sources of delay and uncertainty undermine job creation and economic growth.

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