Federal spending has skyrocketed in recent years - growing at more than 10 percent in recent years -- and I finished my first two years in Congress disappointed that we didn't do more to cut the size and scope of the government.

I think Republican voters around the nation felt the same way I did - and many of them stayed home on Election Day or even voted for Democrats. The people of our diverse and vast nation spoke and they're voices will be heard.

The voters in Georgia's 3rd Congressional District, however, sent a message of their own. They didn't vote for a liberal social agenda, more spending and more taxes. They expect their representative to stand up for conservative principles.

That's what I'm going to do.

There won't be too many situations where I see eye to eye with the Democratic leadership but I'll vote for any bills that align with my conservative principles. For example, I applaud Democrats' claim that they won't allow any earmarks into this year's spending bills. I also support their plan to operate the government at last year's spending levels; that will save taxpayer dollars.

I will not, however, support any legislation that takes a bigger bite out of your family's budget, hurts American business's ability to compete or signals a retreat in the War on Terror.

Democrats have said that tax increases are on the table; I will not support that. Democrats plan to increase the minimum wage, which will reduce the number of entry-level jobs, burden small businesses and fail to help working families; I will not support that.

Many Democrats - and even some members of my own party -- want to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq. I firmly believe that abandoning our responsibilities in Iraq, as tough and as challenging as they may be, would spread even more chaos throughout an already volatile region. Obviously, mistakes have been made. To move in a positive direction, we need a surge of troops to stabilize the country and allow the young Iraqi government the time and tools necessary to defend itself. We all want to see our troops come home but we'll dishonor those who have sacrificed if we don't see the mission through to completion.

As issues arise, I'll consider them on a case-by-case basis. I know a thing or two about when to extend a hand to the majority and how to pick my battles. Though I served two years in the majority here in Washington, I've spent most of my political career in the minority. The Republicans were the loyal opposition for all 12 of my years in the Georgia state House, and I was the minority leader for the last three of those years.

It was my duty then to let Georgians know when the Democrats were breaking their campaign promises or straying from their constituents' values. I plan to do the same in the next two years. The Republican team effort in the Georgia Legislature led to today's GOP majorities in Atlanta. We'll have to work even harder to bring GOP majorities back to the houses of Congress.

I voted for Westmoreland simply because of his support of the Flake Amendments. I didn't vote for him because of his social conservatism, but I know I'm in the minority on that.