WASHINGTON, DC– Today Rep. Pete Olson issued the following statement of endorsement of the Republican ‘Pledge to America’ as a response to the voice of the American people. The Pledge is the culmination of a months-long engagement with the American people in which House Republicans sought their ideas and priorities for Congress. 

“Over the last two years, Americans have tried to communicate their concerns and frustrations to Congressional leaders in Washington.  Their concerns have fallen on deaf ears.  This Pledge is a commitment to listen and to implement policies based on the concerns of our employers, the American people.  These ideas are rooted in a document that we agreed to 223 years ago this month: our Constitution.

“The Pledge is a commitment to the principals to regain control of our government, restore individual freedom and bring America back to greatness.  America spoke and we listened.  Congress should exist to carry out the will of the people, and serve as a check against overextended power. Because the American people cannot endure any more of Washington’s misguided agenda, we pledge to begin fighting for these solutions today. Having enlisted the voices of the American people, we are now well prepared to move America forward and restore our founding principle of accountability to the people.”

Highlights of the Pledge include:

§  Small business income deduction of 20% of income

§  Permanent extension of current tax rates to avoid largest tax hike in history

§  Cancel unspent stimulus funds

§  Place a cap on all new discretionary spending

§  Restore spending to pre-stimulus, pre-bailout levels of 2008

§  Repeal and replace the health care law

For more information on the Pledge to America visit http://www.gop.gov/resources/library/documents/solutions/a-pledge-to-america.pdf.