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Congressional Report
As you may know, I made many stops throughout the district over the course of the month. From speaking with the Monroeville Rotary Club, to the Foley Optimist Club, to the senior government class at T.R. Miller High School in Brewton, I received feedback from many of you on the hot-button issues we are debating in Washington. Many noted that our nation's economy is strong. New jobs are being created, and businesses are growing. While this economic news is encouraging, too many Americans are still struggling to keep up with the growing cost of living. More Americans are working now than ever before; however, our salaries are being stretched even thinner. Our economy has faced many challenges in recent years but has rebounded nicely. Nationally, our current unemployment rate is 4.8 percent. The GDP grew at 2.9 percent in the second quarter of 2006, marking the 19th consecutive quarter of economic growth. Productivity is increasing, and homeownership is at an all-time high. In spite of this encouraging news, too many Americans are coping with the high cost of living and are struggling to make ends meet. It is hard to take comfort in our strong economy when we all have to cope with the high cost of energy; however, there were promising reports last week about falling gas prices. One gasoline analyst even predicted that by Thanksgiving, prices will be closer to $2.00 per gallon than $3.00; at a station in Loxley in Baldwin County, I paid $2.60 a gallon just the other day. This is certainly welcome news as the recent spike in prices has put a pinch on most everyone's pocketbook. This year, Congress enacted legislation to reduce our nation's dependence on foreign oil and expand the use of alternative forms of energy.
Unfortunately, some in Congress have voted no to these proposals, while putting forth no energy plan of their own. (See BONNER on Page 5-A)
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