Refusing to play D.C. game

Dear Editor,

Washington politicians recently failed to take responsibility for their actions. Instead of working for real solutions to our debt crisis, they wasted an entire day debating a resolution whose singular purpose is covering their backsides after they voted to increase the debt ceiling last August.

We wish we could say we’re surprised, but we’re not. It is clear that many in Congress will vote for anything n including this fake resolution of debt ceiling increase disapproval (H.J.Res. 98) n to get re-elected.

The symbolic vote is simply a cover for members who allowed the debt ceiling to increase without fundamental spending reform. Instead of passing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and giving Americans the choice of whether or not they want Congress to balance its books, the Washington politicians skirted the government’s spending problem. 

By raising the debt ceiling, these Washington politicians kicked the can down the road and refused to make the tough choices to get our fiscal house in order. They also bucked what few difficult decisions they could make to a select group of members meeting in secret.

Now, the same people that voted to increase the debt ceiling and create the Super Committee want to make America forget their past actions by passing a resolution of disapproval n a resolution which essentially tells the President, “Hey, you remember when we passed a law that gave you the authority to raise the debt ceiling and keep spending America into oblivion? Yeah, stop it.”

What’s worse is this resolution of disapproval was never designed to pass. In fact, it was designed to fail in the Senate n allowing the President to raise the debt ceiling just like those who supported the August deal gave him the authority to do. And if by some miracle this resolution did pass the Senate, it would be vetoed by the President with Congress unable to override it. This is truly Washington double speak at its best.

As representatives who voted against the debt ceiling increase and against the Super Committee, we would not participate in this smokescreen. When Congress wasted our time with this resolution of disapproval, we voted “present.” We refuse to partake in these political short-term spending gimmicks that are ruining our county and disingenuous to our constituents. 

If the Washington politicians really wanted to block the debt increase, they would have joined us in August and voted against the Budget Control Act. It’s a shame Washington politicians spent last week playing CYA n more concerned about a press release than the next generation.

We came to Congress to change the way D.C. does business. It’s time for the Washington politicians to do the same and end business as usual.

Congressman Jeff Landry (R, LA-03)

and

Congressman Joe Walsh (R-LA-08)