McCotter E-Newsletter: My Message to Obama

Statement

My friends,

The political wrangling in Washington, D.C. has been fairly vigorous these past several weeks, as the new Congress tries to gain some control over runaway federal spending. I am doing all I can to convince my colleagues that something must be done NOW to put an end to the practice of spending trillions of dollars we do not have on things we do not need -- or at least cannot afford.

As you are filing your income tax returns today, keep these facts in mind. Our national debt has increased by $3.5 trillion since 2009. Today, that debt is $14.27 trillion: that's $45,800 per U.S. citizen and $128,400 per taxpayer. Without changing course, in ten years interest payments on the national debt will be $800 billion per year. Please understand that number does not reflect repayment of the debt; that's just the cost of borrowing the money.

This is not sustainable! Congress must remember what hard-working Americans already know: Big Government does not stop chaos -- Big Government is chaos. We simply cannot build a stable economy on government spending.

Forcing government to live within its means (the way your family must) will not be easy. In my eight years representing you in the Congress I have come to the conclusion that these politicians are never going to balance the budget unless they're required to do so by law.

That is why I have again co-sponsored a resolution proposing a balanced budget amendment to the constitution, and called for the President to submit a BALANCED budget to the Congress. I have also consistently supported Republican efforts to end "earmarks." Rest assured, I did not submit any FY10, FY11, or FY12 earmarked appropriations requests, and will continue to support earmark reform during the 112th Congress.

I can't make my fellow congressmen vote the right way, but they can't stop me from trying. Here is a link to one of my most recent floor speeches on the subject: [click here for the short video]. If you can think of anything I haven't said that might awaken my more spendthrift colleagues to the need for fiscal restraint, please let me know.

I can be reached via email at Thaddeus.McCotter@mail.house.gov. You may also contact me through my district offices in Livonia and Milford, or through my office in Washington, D.C.

Thank you for all you do to improve the quality of life in our community and our country.

I work for you.

Thaddeus G. McCotter
Member of Congress

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