John Fleming RSS Articles

Fleming Introducing Bill to Suspend IRS Authority to Audit

Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman John Fleming, M.D., released the following statement to announce that he will introduce legislation this week entitled “Audit the IRS,” a bill that would suspend the authority of the Internal Revenue Service to conduct new audits:

“Today I'm calling on Congress to halt the audit authority of the IRS until Congress has had a chance to get to the root of the misconduct within that agency. For years the IRS has been using the power of the audit as a political weapon. Consequently, Congress must act to disarm the IRS. We’re seeing the tip of the iceberg. Tea party groups, conservative professors, opinion makers who dared to speak out against Obama, and even Billy Graham were targeted for interrogations that dug into private records, seeking information on everything from donor names to Facebook posts. The IRS has breached the trust of the American people and its misuse of the authority to audit must be stopped while Congress investigates the breadth of this scandal.

“What’s especially stunning is that the President, the Attorney General, and the IRS are all suggesting that this was not a coordinated attack on conservative groups or individuals. No one was in charge directing this effort. Instead, they claim this was just the misguided work of low-level employees. If that’s true, then our worst fears about the IRS may be true: countless IRS agents are going rogue and using their government-backed power to carry out personal and political vendettas. I'm not convinced that’s the case, and Congress needs to investigate to find out who authorized this policy.

“With the IRS poised to begin enforcement of Obamacare, Congress must act quickly and decisively to investigate this scandal. My bill will suspend the authority of the IRS to perform any new audits for 180 days, stopping the threat of coercion and intimidation while Congress carries out its full responsibility to examine how audits were misused and who is responsible for any criminal actions. Audits should not be allowed to resume until we complete a Congressional audit of the IRS and can assure the American people that this kind of government strong-arming won’t happen again.”

Dr. John Fleming is Chairman of the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs and is a member of the House Armed Services Committee. He is a physician and small business owner and represents the 4th Congressional District of Louisiana.

Fleming: We just might be witnessing the most corrupt administration in a generation.

Tue, 14 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman John Fleming, M.D., released the following statement about the scandals involving Benghazi, the IRS, and the Department of Justice:

“Maybe no one is safe. Four diplomatic lives are lost in Benghazi and the president calls it 'a side show.' Conservative activists were targeted by the White House's IRS and the president acts dumb on the matter, even though he joked about auditing his enemies in 2009. And now the mainstream media had phone records seized by the White House's Department of Justice, but Attorney General Eric Holder is claiming ignorance and blaming a deputy.

“Abuse of power is now rampant in this administration. It's time for accountability, from the president on down. Attorney General Holder has a persistent history of putting politics before justice. If he will not resign he should be fired. Today.

“Congress must now ramp up, even more aggressively, our oversight duties to protect the innocent and their civil liberties, which are being threatened constantly by this White House. I'm calling on the Speaker, Chairman Camp and Chairman Issa to put all their resources into getting to the bottom of these damaging scandals. A fully functioning democracy is at stake if we fail to do our duty on these matters.

“This Congress must not rest until we get answers and accountability for the American people. It’s time people go to jail for these misdeeds.”

Dr. John Fleming is Chairman of the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs and is a member of the House Armed Services Committee. He is a physician and small business owner and represents the 4th Congressional District of Louisiana.

Fleming and Scalise Raise Religious Freedom Concerns with Defense Secretary Hagel

Mon, 13 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman John Fleming, M.D., and Republican Study Committee Chairman Steve Scalise have sent a letter to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel expressing their concerns and raising questions about a meeting between Pentagon officials and Michael “Mikey” Weinstein to discuss religious freedom in the military. The letter outlines Weinstein’s well-documented disparaging remarks about Christianity and questions the Pentagon’s reasoning for accepting the meeting.

“Mikey Weinstein has characterized Christians as ‘monsters who terrorize their fellow Americans,’ and has compared men and women of faith in the military to the Taliban and Al Qaeda,” said Fleming. “Since this meeting occurred in April, the Pentagon has sent mixed signals that are raising questions about the religious freedom of the men and women who fight to protect that freedom for all Americans. We need answers about this meeting, and any others, that might infringe on the freedom of all of our Armed Forces to live out their religious beliefs without fear of punishment.”

“The actions and derogatory comments made by Michael Weinstein highlight his questionable judgment and disrespect towards those of the Christian faith,” Scalise said. “The fact that Pentagon officials met with Mr. Weinstein raises serious questions and concerns about the Pentagon's approach to finalizing religious protection regulations. It is critical that Pentagon officials provide much-needed answers to the thousands of Christians that serve in our armed forces and clarify the nature and intent of the meeting.”

The letter drafted by Rep. Fleming and Rep. Scalise can be read here. Fifty-nine House members have signed the letter.

Dr. John Fleming is Chairman of the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs and is a member of the House Armed Services Committee. He is a physician and small business owner and represents the 4th Congressional District of Louisiana.

Fleming on Gosnell Abortion Verdict

Mon, 13 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman John Fleming, M.D., released the following statement about the conviction of late-term abortionist Kermit Gosnell:

“About one-million babies are aborted each year in the United States. Today, justice was served for three who were brutally killed after they were born alive. Tragically, we can’t begin to imagine how many other babies were killed by Gosnell, and how many women suffered because of his callous and horrific actions. As a Planned Parenthood representative in Florida indicated in April, the abortion industry seems to want to live by its own rules when it comes to babies born alive in botched abortions.

“There are countless more babies who should be alive today, but whose lives were cut short in similar late-term abortion procedures. The Gosnell case should provoke a national awakening on the lengths some will go to end an unwanted life.”

Dr. John Fleming is Chairman of the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs and is a member of the House Armed Services Committee. He is a physician and small business owner and represents the 4th Congressional District of Louisiana.

Fleming on Obama Budget: Dead on Arrival

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman John Fleming, M.D. released the following statement today, in response to the President’s FY2014 budget:

“Now we know why the president was two months late with his budget. He was hoping we forgot about his $600 billion tax increase from January before his new budget would propose another tax hike of almost $600 billion. The Obama plan adds more than $5 trillion to our $16.8 trillion national debt, does not offer a balanced budget even once over the next ten years, and spends $600 billion more in 2014 than the budget passed by Senate Democrats. Here’s the bottom line: When the president claims he wants long-range deficit reduction, that really means he wants massive tax increases to keep feeding Washington spending. This budget has the same prognosis in Congress as previous Obama budgets: dead on arrival.”

Dr. John Fleming is Chairman of the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs and is a member of the House Armed Services Committee. He is a physician and small business owner and represents the 4th Congressional District of Louisiana.

Fleming Introduces Health Savings Account Legislation

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman John Fleming, M.D. released the following statement today about HR 1342, the Helping Save Americans’ Health Care Choices Act of 2013 (HSA Act), which he introduced on Thursday:

“The HSA Act would repeal the Obamacare provisions that will decimate Health Savings Accounts. The Act restores the tax credits and spending flexibility that will encourage Americans to once again save for their medical expenses. Obamacare should be repealed in its entirety. I oppose it and have voted for its repeal on numerous occasions, and a full repeal remains my goal. However, as long as Senate Democrats and President Obama remain committed to this monstrosity, it’s important that we do what we can to blunt the damaging effects of Obamacare, while passing common sense reforms that put Americans back in charge of their own health care.”

The Helping Save Americans’ Health Care Choices Act of 2013 can be read here.

Rep. Fleming spoke about this legislation at a press conference of the GOP Doctors’ Caucus on 3/21/13. Video here

Dr. John Fleming is Chairman of the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs and is a member of the House Armed Services Committee. He is a physician and small business owner and represents the 4th Congressional District of Louisiana.

Fleming Votes Against Continuing Resolution; Votes for Plan to Balance Budget

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman John Fleming, M.D. (LA-4) released the following statement today after voting for the House Republican budget resolution put forth by Rep. Paul Ryan, and voting against the Continuing Resolution that authorizes federal spending through September:

“There was a significant contrast between the two measures voted on today in the House of Representatives. The budget resolution that I supported offered a real plan for balancing the federal budget and putting a stop to heaping further debt on the backs of future generations. Unfortunately, the Continuing Resolution (CR) that I opposed lacked such boldness and had provisions tacked on by Senate Democrats which ensure continued wasteful spending.

“The CR offered leverage to House Republicans, but that opportunity was missed. It could have included essential First Amendment conscience protections to prevent pro-life health care workers from having to participate in abortion services. It also could have included an attempt to repeal Obamacare, which, by the day, becomes more costly, more intrusive, and more of a mortal blow to patient-centered health care. Not only did it leave those out, but Senate Democrats added appropriations that open the door for them to restore unnecessary spending that the House has cut.

“While Senate Democrats and President Obama claim that Washington doesn’t have a spending problem and that the answer to our $16.7 trillion national debt is higher taxes, the American people know better. House Republicans must be bold to take the steps that will cut wasteful spending, reform Medicare to save it from going broke, and maintain a strong national defense.”

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Fleming Introduces Conscience Protection Legislation

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman John Fleming, M.D. (LA-4) introduced the Health Care Conscience Rights Act today with Representative Diane Black and Representative Jeff Fortenberry. The legislation is designed to protect health care workers and providers of health insurance from being forced, by the Obama Administration, to perform or pay for abortion services, against their deeply held religious and moral beliefs. At a press conference announcing the legislation, Rep. Fleming made the following remarks:

“We’re seeing our conscience rights and freedoms eroded right before our very eyes. We’ve been able to hold this tsunami back for many years, until the passage of Obamacare, the Affordable Care Act, and with it comes all sorts of leaks and not-so-small leaks in our conscience protection rights. So it’s important that we begin plugging these holes, and begin to create firewalls and protections for Americans against being forced and coerced, whether it’s on the job, whether it’s an employer, or whether it’s a health care worker, in complying with things that are against their conscience.”

Video of Dr. Fleming’s remarks can be found here.

The text of the Health Care Conscience Rights Act can be found here.

On February 27, 2013 Dr. Fleming and 13 of his House colleagues wrote to Speaker John Boehner requesting that the Health Care Conscience Rights Act be attached to legislation that is necessary for funding the government through the rest of the fiscal year. Dr. Fleming noted, “These vital protections were in place until President Obama and Obamacare began to dismantle them. The House needs to make every effort to reestablish them as soon as possible.” Unfortunately, despite the request, the Health Care Conscience Rights Act was not included in the funding legislation that will be on the floor this week.

Fleming: Shaking my Head at White House Tour Cancellation

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman John Fleming, M.D. (LA-4) released the following statement today after the Obama Administration canceled White House tours, blaming sequestration:

“SMH is a common acronym on social media. It stands for shaking my head. That’s my reaction to the latest sequester gamesmanship from President Obama. Congressional offices handle all of the arrangements for White House tours as a service to our constituents. The White House merely runs a background check on the names of people who seek tours. The tours themselves are self-guided. So, why are they being canceled? Could this be another ploy by President Obama to project as much pain as possible on the American people because he can’t bear a 2.5% cut in the growth of Washington spending? Mr. President, are you kidding me? This is how the White House handles a slight reduction in growth? My office, like all House offices, has just cut our spending allowance again, for a total of nearly 20% in cuts since Republicans took the House majority. Yet we’re still serving our constituents, and guess what – we’re still providing tours of the Capitol to our constituents. The real problem at the White House is a president who lacks the desire and the ability to manage and balance a budget. Mr. Obama needs to stop trying to manufacture chaos on the basis of a small cut in the growth of Washington’s spending.”

Dr. John Fleming is Chairman of the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs and is a member of the House Armed Services Committee. He is a physician and small business owner and represents the 4th Congressional District of Louisiana.

Fleming Questions Generals on Sequestration’s Impact on Barksdale and Fort Polk

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT

Congressman John Fleming, M.D. (LA-4) questioned the Chiefs of Staff of the Army and Air Force at a hearing on sequestration held today by the House Armed Services Committee. Rep. Fleming’s interaction with General Raymond Odierno (Army) and General Mark Walsh (Air Force) focused on Fort Polk and Barksdale Air Force Base. The video of that interaction can be seen here. Prior to that, in his opening statement, Fleming noted that he voted against sequestration when he voted “no” on the Budget Control Act of 2011. He also warned that President Obama was not taking steps as the Commander-in-Chief to stop the sequestration’s threat to the country’s national defense. Rep. Fleming’s opening statement can be seen here.

Dr. John Fleming is Chairman of the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs and is a member of the House Armed Services Committee. He is a physician and small business owner and represents the 4th Congressional District of Louisiana.