McCarthy: federal budget deficit now tops a trillion dollars and let's count the votes of our service men and women overseas

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) gives us his weekly view from Capitol Hill. In his words:

 "This week we learned that certain states have failed to get ballots to our overseas military personnel in enough time so that their votes can be properly counted.  This is infuriating.  Last October, Congress
worked together to enact a bipartisan law that requires state and local election jurisdictions to transmit ballots to overseas and military voters no later than 45 days before a general election.
  "Today, joining with neighboring Congressman Buck McKeon, the Senior Republican on the Armed Services Committee, we sent a letter to the Department of Justice calling on them to address this issue.  In order to ensure that our overseas servicemen and servicewomen are not disenfranchised, we are urging the Justice Department to work with the Department of Defense and election officials to send ballots by
express delivery so that their ballots can be counted.

  "Speaking of military service, my office will host an Academy Forum on Saturday, November 6th for all students interested in attending one of our nation’s U.S. Service Academies.  If you know of a student who is
interested please let them know that they can RSVP by emailing my office at RSVP.McCarthy@mail.house.gov or by calling 327-3611.  The forum will be held from 10:00 to 11:00 am at the Kern County Board of Supervisors’ Chambers, and representatives from each Academy will be
there, along with various visiting cadets and midshipmen who will be able to offer a first-hand account of what school and life are like at the academies.  Parents are welcome to come too.

  "It was great to be in Taft today to help celebrate the city’s 100th Anniversary during Oildorado Days.  As you know in the late 1800’s, oil was discovered and overnight Taft was born.  Taft has a rich
historical connection to America’s domestic natural energy production, and I was proud to celebrate its rich heritage today.   To celebrate its centennial, Taft unveiled the long awaited Oil Workers Monument,
which was created and sculpted by Kern County’s own Foothill High School graduate, Benjamin Victor.  It stands 40 feet tall and weighs 13 tons and is now the largest bronze monument in California.  Check
out pictures on my facebook.com/CongressmanKevinMcCarthy from today’s unveiling.  If you did not have a chance to visit Taft this weekend, Oildorado Days will continue next weekend.  For more information on a
good family outing, visit: oildoradodays.com.

  "Not to end on a negative note, but today a sobering report from the Administration informed us that the federal deficit for 2010 is expected to be $1.29 trillion, which means that the federal government
borrowed 37 cents out every dollar it spent.  How we act on this news will impact future generations.  In A Pledge to America, my colleagues and I put forth a plan that we can act on now to stop out-of-control
spending and reduce the size of government.  To read it, visit: pledge.gop.gov.  Thanks for reading.