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“These are the types of things that matter to everyday Americans. So it’s important that you get out of the bubble of this city, and do what I do when I get back home. Go get a haircut, go grab lunch, go tour a plant, and talk to the everyday Americans and how they’re doing.“

Two years ago, we unveiled our Better Way agenda to address the major issues our country was facing. Since then, tax cuts, regulatory relief, and pro-growth policies have led to an economic boom that has made Americans more optimistic, confident and hopeful about the future. It isn’t just the economy, though. America is stronger at home and abroad, our communities are safer, and our military is stronger. Americans are Better Off Now.

Want more info? Visit Better.gop

At today’s House Republican Leadership press conference, Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) shared what he’s hearing from people in his community:


“The economy in Georgia is strong, it’s getting stronger, and clearly the people are better off today than they were just two or four years ago. Georgia had elevated itself, even during the lean times, to be the top state in the nation to do business. This was because of strong Republican policies led by a Republican governor and a Republican lead legislature. We also ranked as one of the top states in the nation as far as workforce and infrastructure. Georgia is now getting even stronger.

“Because of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the Georgia legislature was able to pass a historic cut in income and corporate taxes during the last legislative session. That has further stimulated Georgia's economy.

“Georgia’s unemployment is down to 4.2% and is going even lower. Contrast that to when I was in the state legislature and we were facing a 9% unemployment rate. The statistics are strong, the economy is strong, but the true story of how people are better off is not seen in the polls, is not seen in the statistics, it’s seen in the lives of every day Georgians.

“If you want to see how things are going, go get a haircut at the Cartersville barber shop in Cartersville, Georgia. Talk to the ladies working in the barbershop and hear how they’ve had to hire more barbers, but more importantly, if you really want to know how things are going you get a haircut because people talk. Hear the stories of their clients of how happier they are and how much happier they are.

“Or go have lunch at the Big Chicken in Marietta, Georgia or talk to the airman from Dobbins Air Reserve Base who are now able to share how the pay raise that we have given them is affecting their personal lives as well how the strong economy is helping them in their personal lives as well.

“Or go attend an American Legion meeting in Acworth, Georgia and talk to the veterans who are now able to get jobs they weren't able to get before or how encouraged they are about the reforms that we are making in the VA. Go tour the Anheuser Busch plant in Cartersville, Georgia.

“Talk to the line workers and hear how the additional income they have is being invested in what’s important to their families and how they are taking the vacations they once dreamed of or making an important improvement to their home.

“I think it's best summarized by something that happened to me at church recently, when I went to church at Oakland Heights Baptist Church in my hometown. Just before the service started a gentleman came up to me and he looked at me and said, ‘Look, I don’t follow politics very closely, and I don't know what exactly you guys are doing, but whatever it is, just keep doing it. My life is better, my kids are better off and we don't know what’s going on, but whatever it is, its working.’

“It’s not just the tax cuts, its the other things as well that are making people better off as well. Including cutting onerous regulations, burdensome regulations, and getting the bureaucratic red tape off the backs of Americans and the businesses.

“For instance, yesterday we passed unanimously on the House floor the bill back, a bill that I introduced that actually cuts the regulatory environment that was brought on by Dodd-Frank that was hurting a lot of charitable organizations. Especially those that provide housing for the neediest of Americans. For instance, habitat for humanity, they were trapped into onerous reporting requirements brought on by Dodd-Frank. 1,880 pages of regulation and many of their affiliates only have volunteers. They can not afford the huge compliance specialists to work just to make sure that they’re meeting the government regulations. We repealed that and allowed them to go to the simpler reporting forms as they report the mortgages and disclose the zero interest mortgages that they provide with these homes.

“These are the types of things that matter to everyday Americans. So it’s important that you get out of the bubble of this city, and do what I do when I get back home. Go get a haircut, go grab lunch, go tour a plant, and talk to the everyday Americans and how they’re doing. Thank you.”