[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 4 (Tuesday, January 15, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H97]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             TIME TO TACKLE WASHINGTON'S SPENDING ADDICTION

  (Mr. MESSER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today for the first time in this 
Chamber to urge the President and Congress to get serious about 
addressing the out-of-control borrowing and spending that is 
jeopardizing the American Dream for our children and grandchildren.
  The President has said that the debt ceiling debate is not the time 
to tackle Washington's spending addiction and has called for more 
taxes, more spending and more borrowing in return for any future 
spending reforms. Yesterday he said, ``We can't finish the job of 
deficit reduction through spending cuts alone.'' But the last Congress 
already raised taxes. Now it's time to tackle Washington's binge 
spending.
  The fundamental question to be answered in the upcoming debate is 
whether Washington should take more than it already confiscates from 
hardworking, taxpaying Americans. The answer is no. Washington doesn't 
tax too little. It spends too much.
  Mr. Speaker, the new freshman Republican Members of the House are 
holding a Special Order after today's legislative business to highlight 
the urgency of the upcoming debt ceiling debate. I hope as many of my 
colleagues who can will join this effort and explain to the American 
people why we owe it to our children to stop spending and borrowing and 
start controlling our debt.

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