Sunday, April 14, 2013

McCarthy: President's budget calls for unsustainable spending and millions of dollars in new tax hikes


 Rep. Kevin McCarthy, a Bakersfield Republican and House Majority Whip, gives us his weekly view from Capitol Hill.

 "This week, we lost two remarkable women who many of us admired.  First, the world mourned the passing of Margaret Thatcher, or the “Iron Lady” as the Soviets nicknamed her.  And deservedly so - she was an unflinching champion of liberty, democracy, and free enterprise. The daughter of a
grocer, Thatcher rose to become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, turned Britain around and, with President Reagan, won the Cold War.  As we face some of our greatest challenges as a nation, let’s remember her words, “There can be no liberty unless there is economic liberty.”  This transformational world leader will be missed.

 "The same day, we also learned Annette Funiciello, who many know as one of the original Musketeers on “The Mickey Mouse Club”, passed away in Bakersfield after a long battle against multiple sclerosis. Throughout her life and career she inspired viewers and touched many lives.

 "In Washington, 65 days past the deadline, the President finally released his version of a budget.  In it, he calls for $1.1 trillion in new taxes on top of those he already put on American taxpayers in January.  The President’s budget fails to rein in spending, and instead calls for $964 billion in new spending above the projected growth of the economy.  On this path, we could see $45.5 trillion in total spending over ten years.  This is unacceptable and, as I’ve said time and again, we have a spending problem, not a revenue problem.  Yet, his unserious budget only reduces the deficit by $119 billion over ten years – not the initial $1.8 trillion deficit reduction claimed by the White House.

 "That does not put us on a sustainable path and that is why House Republicans put forth a different plan that gives people more control over their own lives and less government bureaucracy.  I am pleased the House recently passed this responsible budget blueprint that holds Washington accountable and tackles the real drivers of our debt. By cutting waste, simplifying the tax code, repealing Obamacare and replacing it with patient-centered reforms, and reforming entitlements to ensure they exist for future generations, this plan allows hardworking taxpayers to keep more, save more, and invest more.

"This week I also chatted with Scott Cox on First Look about ongoing efforts in the battle against Valley Fever.  I sent a letter to the National Institutes of Health director and other senior officials requesting a meeting to express our communities’ sense of urgency that they prioritize Valley Fever vaccine research and develop better methods of preventing and overcoming this illness.  Additionally, I will travel to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta to tour the facilities and meet with the director and leading experts in combating this disease. As a lifelong resident of the Central Valley, I’ve seen how this disease has affected the lives of so many around us, and I will continue to lead the effort in Washington and around the country to raise awareness and find a solution.

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