Todd Tiahrt: “the United States has the number one economy in the world. For almost two centuries, we have been the envy of the world…”

“the United States has the number one economy in the world. For almost two centuries, we have been the envy of the world: a dynamic economy; a hardworking, motivated workforce; truly the land of opportunity where innovation has thrived. The status is changing, though. We are running a $670 billion annual trade deficit which is contributing to our Federal budget deficit and slowed economy over the past few years. This development is not a temporary blip on the radar screen. It is the culmination of a generation of increased regulation, unsound tax policies, languishing emphasis on math and science education, unchecked health care costs, rampant lawsuit abuse, unfocused research and development funds and a weak trade policy enforcement. In short, our government has made it difficult and undesirable to do business in the United States. We have put roadblocks to keeping and creating jobs in America, and we have done this to ourselves. If these current trends continue, our economy will continue to lag and we will no longer remain the most dynamic economy in the world. Meanwhile, China, India and other nations are preparing for the future. They are educating their students in math, science and technology, and pumping out record numbers of engineers. They are reducing tax rates and other economic barriers to entice investments in their nations. They are pursuing aggressive trade policies to reduce America's dominance in world trade.…”