Letter from a Congressman
January 25, 2013 Dear Mr. Raines: Thank you very much for contacting me regarding the inability of the Senate to pass a budget over the last three years. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue. As you are probably aware, Majority Leader Reid announced that the Senate will not pass a budget for FY 2013. The announcement came on the 1,010th day since the Senate last passed a budget and on the heels of my support for legislation expressing the belief that passing a [balanced] budget for FY 2013 should be a national priority. [A "balanced budget" means CUTTING SPENDING --- NOW !! This is a "balanced approach". ] In the real world, families must live within a budget, small businesses and farms must operate within a budget, and state and local governments must live within a budget. The only institution in this country that we are aware of that doesn’t feel the need to operate under a budget is the United States Senate. The nation is facing unprecedented levels of debt, the Congressional Budget Office is projecting trillion-dollar per year deficits for the balance of the decade, and the United States Congress has presented no bicameral proposal to the American people about how we intend to deal with it. That is wholly unacceptable. For this reason I voted in favor of H.R. 325, No Budget, No Pay. In order to balance the budget, you first need to have a budget. In defiance of the law and the American people, the senate has failed to pass a budget resolution since April 29, 2009. This bill would require the senate to pass a budget, or the senators’ [statists] own salaries will be withheld. It is my hope this will represent the first step on the path to a balanced federal budget. Please rest assured, I look forward to supporting a reasonable budget in the House in the upcoming months that will drive down federal spending, including by fixing entitlement programs, and eventually move toward a balanced budget. I appreciate the fact that you have taken the time to apprise me of your opinions and hope that you will contact me again should you have any further comments or concerns. If you would like additional information on my activities in the House, please visit my website, www.Amodei.house.gov or connect with me on facebook.com/MarkAmodeiNV2 and twitter.com/MarkAmodeiNV2. In closing, please know that I consider it a privilege to serve and represent you and your family in Congress. Sincerely, |
