I often get chuckles and laughs at town halls when I open our Q&A sessions with, “I’m from the government, and I am here to help.” He was ready to lead the way in redefining government.
As a veterinarian, a small business owner for over 25 years and now a U.S. congressman, my team and I are trying to turn that phrase from a terrifying joke to a sincere statement.
It’s safe to say that at some point, we as business owners and even as employees have had to deal with government at the federal, state and local levels. It’s intimidating to do business, especially in the face of three levels of bureaucracy.
When I was running several businesses, I trembled at the thought of government interference, additional regulations, complicated tax policy changes — basically anything that the government did.
As the representative for North Central Florida, it’s become my goal to make sure that government does help — by getting out of your way. I know from having 25 years of business experience what it takes to maneuver and adapt to the constantly changing business environment. Using that experience, we are working on ways that Washington can ease up some of the over-burdensome regulations that are stifling business and killing jobs. Moreover, we are working to bring back an era of certainty.
For example, Rep. Doug Collins (GA-09) and I have created the Regulatory Working Reform Group. The purpose of this group is to identify and dismantle regulations that have proven not to improve safety for consumers, do not protect the employer and are killing industry.
While it may seem like a small chip in the grand scheme of things, it’s a start.
I encourage readers, employers and employees to get in touch with our local Gainesville office with suggestions for regulations that have taken a serious toll on our local area.
It is my hope that in 2014, my colleagues and I in Washington can take this message to heart and work to bring much-needed certainty to our nation’s business community.
Biography:
Congressman Ted Yoho represents North Central Florida’s 3rd Congressional district, which includes Alachua, Union, Gilchrist, Bradford, Marion, Clay, Suwannee, Dixie, Lafayette, Columbia, Levy, Madison and Hamilton Counties. He was elected to the 113th Congress in November 2012. Prior to serving in Congress, Ted owned several successful animal practices and worked as a large animal veterinarian in the community.
Ted was born in Minnesota and moved to South Florida where he met his wife, Carolyn, in the 4th grade. Ted and Carolyn got married at 19 and began to work their way through college — Carolyn as a court reporter and Ted packing vegetables at night. After completing his AA degree at Broward Community College, Ted and Carolyn moved to Gainesville, where Ted enrolled at the University of Florida. He graduated in 1983 with his bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine.
Carolyn continued to build her own businesses by opening new court reporting agencies and helping Ted open additional practices. Ted and Carolyn began instilling a strong work ethic in their three children early on in making family projects out of real estate investments and building their businesses. They instilled the principles of setting goals, the willingness to work hard and treating people fairly. Ted and Carolyn emphasized that if you did these things and took hold of opportunity, they could achieve the American Dream. After all, Ted and Carolyn were products of the American Dream.
In 2010, Ted and Carolyn sold their practices to focus on their time and energy on a new passion: our nation. Ted believes that more than ever, our nation is drifting away from the ability to achieve the American Dream. In order to preserve it, we need to get back to our founding principles, core values and the Constitution. As a freshman congressman, he plans to champion legislation that reflects his values and those of the constituents he represents. Ted’s approach to government is guided by constitutional principles, the idea of small government, fiscal conservatism, personal responsibility and free enterprise.
When he is not in Washington representing the Gator Nation, he is home spending time with his family and constituents, fishing or cheering on his Gators.