For Immediate Release

July 19, 2007

Media Contact:  Ray Yonkura
(202) 225-2676

Jordan Column: Mid-Year Washington Update

Washington, DC--Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Urbana) today released the following column:

As Congress makes its way through the annual appropriations process, I can’t help but notice how nonchalant many in Washington are about raising taxes and spending our tax dollars.

It started six months ago, when I spoke on the House floor to warn people that House leadership was passing rules to make it easier to raise taxes on families and businesses.

Just weeks later, the Democrat majority did just that, ending the “100 Hours Agenda” by raising taxes on domestic energy companies--at the same time many of us believe we should instead try to keep gas prices down and reduce our dangerous dependence on Middle Eastern oil.

Then in March, a razor-thin Democrat majority of 216 to 210 passed a budget proposal to spend a colossal $3 trillion of our tax dollars.  To no one’s surprise, this record level of spending would be fueled by the largest tax increase in American history.

Over the past few weeks, the spending spree has continued. Through the first seven of twelve federal appropriations bills, the Democrats have inexplicably voted to increase discretionary spending by $23 billion over the levels the federal agencies themselves requested.

True, there are some positive things to mention in these spending measures--including pay raises for our men and women in uniform and a much-needed boost for veterans’ programs.

However, two overriding factors helped cement my decision to propose holding next year’s non-defense discretionary spending to this year’s level--essentially providing a “zero-growth” budget.
 

First is unfettered free spending, which amounts to over $5 million per minute.  Even worse, the budgets of most federal agencies are slated to grow more than three times the rate of inflation.

Second is the looming entitlement-driven fiscal crisis we face in the next decade.  If we do not get the rest of our fiscal house in order, the challenges facing programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid may prove to be insurmountable.

The logic behind our “zero-growth” budget is straightforward:  Just as many families and businesses must live on last year’s budget, so should the federal government--for a change.

Recently released numbers indicate that tax cuts, economic growth, and fiscal restraint have helped us cut the federal deficit by more than half since 2003.  This is the recipe for a strong economic future and continued private-sector job creation, which is vital as competition in the world market intensifies.

However, the tax-and-spend path favored by this congressional majority would reverse this progress and create more economic hurdles at a time when we can least afford it.

Another recent ill-advised endeavor of Congress was the so-called immigration reform bill, which was scuttled under heavy public criticism.  I am pleased that the U.S. Senate got this one right.

Of the nearly 1,000 contacts our offices receive each week, no issue has met with such intensity and clarity as this one.  The message I've heard from you is clear:  secure our borders, enforce existing immigration laws, reject “amnesty” for those who broke the law, and work to make the legal immigration system work better.

I continue to be impressed by the amount of correspondence we receive in our offices, whether by mail, e-mail, or fax.  I urge you to continue contacting me, and our staff and I will do our very best to respond to everyone in a timely manner.

As a reminder to those residents (like me) who were raised to “write your congressman”:  because of the post-9/11 Capitol Hill “anthrax scare,” mail that is sent to House and Senate offices is rerouted to an offsite facility for irradiation.  This leads to a delay of 10 to 14 days in mail delivery.

With that being said, we welcome your comments, questions, and concerns.  Please write or e-mail me at the addresses listed on our website (jordan.house.gov), or call us in Washington at 202-225-2676, or in our district offices in Mansfield (419-522-5757), Findlay (419-423-3210), or Lima (419-999-6455).