Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the statutory PAYGO act. This bill, which I'm proud to cosponsor, will help restore fiscal discipline by enacting into law the most basic principle of responsible accounting, that every dollar spent must be offset by a dollar earned or saved. This is the way that American families balance their finances, and this same principle should apply to the Federal budget. This legislation is particularly important at a time when Congress also faces the troubling task of raising the statutory debt limit. I am truly dismayed by the need to raise the ceiling of our national debt, which already exceeds $12 trillion. We simply cannot keep borrowing our way to a better future. It is time that we take decisive action to reduce our Federal deficit while continuing to invest in our economy and combat unemployment. In Rhode Island, the unemployment is now 12.9 percent, the third highest in the country. Put simply, Rhode Islanders are still looking for jobs, but they are also looking for a government they can trust to live within its fiscal means. This is going to require the will and cooperation of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike to solve our budgetary challenges. Today, it begins by passing the statutory pay-as-you-go act. I urge my colleagues to support this measure and send a strong message to the American people that the days of fiscal irresponsibility are over.”