Washington D.C.- Ways & Means Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-MI)delivered the Republican response to President Obama’s weekly radioaddress. The transcript of the Congressman’s remarks are below.
Transcript:
“Hello, I am Congressman Dave Camp from Michigan, and I serve as the lead Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee.
“American families and small businesses are hurting, and Republicansknow that we must act to help get our economy back on track, but wealso know that we can’t borrow and spend our way back to prosperity.
“Last week, Democratic leaders in Congress railroaded through a $1.1trillion spending bill. As soon as next week, they may bring up a billthat spends another half trillion dollars. And that is on top of the$700 billion in TARP money – and perhaps untold billions more – we’respending to help banks and homeowners.
“Congressional Democratic Leaders’ track record on spendingtaxpayers’ money wisely this year is already lousy. House Republicansoffered a plan to help our economy using fast-acting tax relief thatwould have created 6.2 million jobs – twice the jobs at half the costof the Democrats’ trillion-dollar government spending bill. Instead,the Democrats’ bill included money for electric golf carts, billionsthat could go to scandal-plagued groups like ACORN, and millions morejust to renovate government office buildings. Despite promises ofopenness and transparency, it was written in a backroom and rushedthrough Congress so quickly that few – if any – Members of Congressread it.
“Next week, we have an opportunity to hit ‘reset’ and try again towork in a transparent and bipartisan way to address our nations’problems. On Monday, Members of Congress from both parties will joinPresident Obama at the White House for a ‘Fiscal Responsibility Summit.’
“Republicans and Democrats agree that the American people deserve asecure retirement, including affordable health care they can count on. But we all know that vital programs like Medicare and Social Securityface serious financial challenges as Baby Boomers get older, peoplelive longer lives and families have fewer children.
“Republicans genuinely want to work with the President to solvethese problems – in a responsible way that does not burden our childrenand grandchildren with a mountain of debt. The summit next week is animportant step, as is the budget outline the President will release atthe end of the week. If he is serious about dealing with the toughissues and getting spending under control, his budget will show it.
“If we do not act, we doom the next generation to fewer and worsegovernment services, drastic tax increases, and unprecedented debt. Wemust not leave that legacy to our children and our grandchildren.
“Thank you for listening.”
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