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OLYMPIA J. SNOWE MAINE COMMITTEES: COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION 154 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING (202) 224-5344 OCEANS, ATMOSPHERE, FISHERIES AND COAST GUARD SUBCOMMITTEE Web Site: http://snowe.senate.gov ~nitro ~tatrs ~rnatr AUBURN DEPUTY WHIP Dear Friends: WASHINGTON, DC 20510-1903 January 3, 2012 FINANCE INTELLIGENCE RANKING MEMBER, SMALL BUSINESS I want to thank you for the opportunity to extend my warm greetings to the people of Lewiston, and take just a moment to offer a few thoughts about the past year as we look ahead to the year to come. Indisputably, as we continue to face historic challenges as a nation, as a state, and as individual towns and Cities, our economy remains of paramount concern, and justifiably so, as we are still plagued by the worst economic downturn since World War IL Indeed, as countless Mainers have conveyed to me in roundtable discussions aud on Main Street tours, the crushing job creation drought that too many have endured for far too long must not become the new normal. Thanlifully, there are steps that Congress and the Administration can take right now to expand our private sector. We can best unleash the genius and innovation that have made our country the most exceptional in human history, I believe, by addressing the following three pro-growth pillars, consisting of a balanced budget amendment, regulatory reform, and tax code overhaul, all of which I have championed in the Senate. It is long past time that Congress bridge the partisan divide and unite around a pro-growth jobs agenda to pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution just as Maine and 48 other states already have, to end the regulatory rampage in Washington that has hamstrung our economy, and to overhaul the far-too-complicated, unwieldy tax code. American taxpayers expend 7. 6 billion hours and spend $140 billion- or one percent ofGDP-just struggling to comply with tax filing requirements- and that burden must end. The fundamental question is, what kind of country do we want America to be? Mainers, like all Americans, are frustrated and angry that we have an expansionist government and a record accumulation of debt, and yet they don't see any positive difference in their own lives. I share that frustration and anger. And I hope you will work with me to forge a brighter future worthy of the greatest nation on Earth, bearing in mind as we move forward that economic and homeland security cannot be mutually exclusive. In that light, we remember today- and every day- the extraordinary service and sacrifice of our brave servicemen and women in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world who comprise the finest defense force on the planet. Please be assured, I will continue to work tirelessly on behalf of the people of Maine and America. I encourage you to visit my Senate website at www.snowe.senate.gov for additional details on how you can join with me in these efforts, obtain helpful government iriformation, and share any concerns or legislative input you may have. You may also visit with members of my staff at my Regional Office located at Two Great Falls Plaza, Suite 7B, in Auburn or by calling 786-8292 or toll free in Maine at 1- [PHONE REDACTED]. AuGUSTA BANGOR BIDDEFORD PORTLAND PRESQUE ISLE Two GREAT FALLS PLAZA SUITE 7B 40 WESTERN AVENUE, SuiTE 408C AUGUSTA, ME 04330 202 HARLOW STREET, SUITE 214 BANGOR, ME 04401 227 MAIN STREET BIDDEFORD, ME 04005 (207) 282-4144 3 CANAL PLAZA, SUITE 601 PORTLAND, ME 04101 (207) 874-0883 169 ACADEMY STREET, SUITE 3 PRESQUE ISLE, ME 04769 AUBURN, ME 04210 (207) 786-2451 (207) 622-8292 (207) 945-0432 IN MAINE CALL TOLL-FREE 1-[PHONE REDACTED] PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER MAINE RELAY SERVICE TDD 1-955-3323 (207) 764-5124