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DOGE Day on Capitol Hill
Many of you are very familiar with my fascination of utilizing technology and innovation to disrupt costs of government. I have done presentation after presentation that highlights technology around us and its ability to make people healthier. Not only do these cures emphasize the morality of making people healthier, but it'd also be incredibly moral for reducing federal debt. Until you modernize and deliver services and what we think of as government and how we do it, you can't change the spending enough. These problems require thinking, reading, and also requires our staff and other government officials to step outside our filter bubbles. With new projects like the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), I am incredibly hopeful.
When you have someone like Elon Musk and the conversations we had last week, it's almost a relief in being reminded that there are people who agree. We talked about how we could deliver quality services and how the utilization of technology actually helps us to do it better, faster, cheaper, and dramatically more MORALLY. If we had a debt crisis, think of just how much of the world goes into mass starvation and poverty. Many of us in Congress don't think of the morality of our place in the world, and the role we play in wanting the best for our brothers and sisters.
I am incredible thankful to Mr. Musk and Mr. Ramaswamy for discussing my laundry list of proposals that work toward making life better for our Americans. I'm incredibly hopeful and am looking forward to seeing what future collaboration surfaces from these important conversations. Do you have any ideas on how to make government less wasteful and more efficient? Respond to this newsletter to let me know.
*Click HERE for an explanation on policy I hope to be enacted by DOGE.
Another Arizona Member Off to Greener Pastures
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| Listen to my tribute to Rep. Lesko here. |
Representative Debbie Lesko and I have had the privilege of sitting next to each other on our flights to Washington D.C., and back to Arizona. Where you usually see passengers on their computers or watching movies, Debbie has a stack of papers that she reads line by line, highlighting important pieces of information to take back to her constituents and staff. Those are the sort of things you notice about upstanding members who wholeheartedly care about their constituents. The Northwest Valley is lucky to have you representing them on the Board of Supervisors. We will miss you!
The Gift of Love Being Shared this Holiday Season
On a bit more of a personal note, I wanted to share my offices' excitement for our colleague and his now fiancée's recent engagement!
Jagaar and Caitlin, the love you not only have for each other, but also your community, radiates greatly through your relationships, and we could not be more excited to join in celebrating this recent declaration of love. Congratulations to the soon-to-be Halversons!
Recognizing Some Amazing Citizens of AZ-01
Last Thursday, my staff attended a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Joliet Aesthetics MedSpa.
Through the foundational experience of the seasoned staff, to the cleanliness and privacy of the facility, Joliet Aesthetics tailors your personal pathway toward overall health and wellness. Remember, personalization is not a luxury… it’s their expectation. Not only did Joliet Aesthetics open their doors for new customers, but they also collected items for Toys for Tots to help spread holiday cheer.
Especially during the stress of the holiday season, having more opportunity to decompress around town offers the true gift of tranquility for oneself. Thank you for having us, and we are looking forward to seeing how you treat our Arizona families!
NEW: Healthy Holiday Recipes!
All– I would be lying if I said I didn't feel guilty about indulging during the holiday season. Luckily, I've called in some reinforcements to help us enjoy the season's greetings without the guilt of the season's eatings. Meet The Juice Lady, Cherie Calbom, MS, CN. I had the opportunity of speaking to Cherie on the phone last week, where she was excited to share her nutrition expertise just in time for holiday cooking.
This week, she shared a recipe for Pecan Shortbread Cookies, which are gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free, and apparently, guilt-free!
INGREDIENTS
• 2 1/2 cups almond flour
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup toasted pecans, chopped
• 5 tablespoons coconut nectar or 2-3 tablespoons monk fruit*
• 1/2 cup salted butter, or vegan butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
A note from the nutritionist: "Monk fruit is sweeter than coconut nectar. It can crystalize in baking when using too much so you may need to experiment with it a time or two. Monk fruit is worth trying, however, because it ranks zero on the glycemic index. That means it is beneficial in managing glucose metabolism as it does not raise blood sugar. Coconut nectar has a glycemic index of 35, making it lower than sugar and honey. This means it has a lower impact on blood sugar."
What most excites me about Cherie's mission is that she, like me, is dedicated to making our brothers and sisters healthier instead of maintaining their misery. Thank you, Cherie, for your dedication to the wellness of our communities! Stay tuned for other recipes in the coming weeks.
What I’m Reading & Why It Matters
There is mixed review among Republican congressional members on expiring 2017 tax reform provisions. Some, such as Chairman Jodey Arrington of the House Budget Committee, are concerned about tax cuts increasing the budget, while others would rather cut costs in other ways. Some pay-fors that have circulated include hiking tariffs, reducing food stamp spending, and so-called dynamic scoring, which takes into account tax receipts generated by increased economic activity that legislation is predicted to generate. Arrington says there are other, less-conventional possibilities, too, mentioning things like counting revenue stemming from the economic boost that comes with reducing regulations– something that’s currently omitted from the congressional budgeting process.
Felon Dinesh D'Souza shared an apology for the harm he caused over false claims made during the 2022 election cycle. D'Souza released a film in 2022, which claims that mules were responsible for illegal ballot activity. According to his theory, mules were carrying ballots to swing states, while True the Vote's geolocation data from cell phones was used to track the ballots. After an investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and a defamation lawsuit, the Georgia court ruled in favor of his opponent, verifying that his claims were not supported by sufficient evidence.
And on a fun, final note for what I've been reading, I've got some more holiday treat recipes from culinary experts themselves. There are so many obscure flavors and ingredients mentioned in here, and I highly recommend taking a look for some delicious recipes sure to impress all your seasonal guests. |