Representative Scott Responds To Newport News Tea Party Demonstration

Statement

Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement regarding the Tea Party demonstration outside of his Newport News District office today:

"Active citizen involvement is essential to our democratic process. On the 100th anniversary of the founding of the NAACP, it is appropriate to note that peaceful protest is a great American tradition and a constitutional right of every citizen.

"I appreciate the point of view of the demonstrators. I wish these demonstrations had taken place over the last eight years when the previous administration was squandering a ten year $5.6 trillion projected surplus and turning it into an additional debt of over $4 trillion - a swing of nearly $9 trillion. The previous administration turned over the worst economic recession since the Great Depression to the Obama Administration.

"The reckless fiscal policy of the previous administration is even more devastating when placed in perspective: $5.6 trillion was sufficient to pay off the entire debt held by the public by 2008; $4 trillion would have been sufficient to pay social security without reducing benefits for 75 years; and the healthcare reform legislation now being debated in Congress to provide affordable access to health care to 47 million uninsured Americans has a 10 year price tag of $1.5 trillion.

"I agree that this nation is facing a serious fiscal and economic crisis. However, if we do not rebuild our economy by investing in infrastructure, education, clean energy, and reforming our health care system, our fiscal situation will not improve. The status quo of the previous eight years has only led to fiscal and economic disaster. It is now time to turn the page and move forward to build an America prepared to lead the 21st century global economy using the same fiscally responsible strategies that worked so well in the 1990's."

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