Ted Poe: “``Can't have cookies without the milk. Tax reform and spending cuts, not one without the other.'' That was a comment on…”

“``Can't have cookies without the milk. Tax reform and spending cuts, not one without the other.'' That was a comment on my Facebook page from Mike in Texas. The American people get it. Why doesn't the government? Because Washington is addicted to spending somebody else's money. The House has already passed two bills that would avert the fiscal cliff, but as usual, the Senate is missing in action. In August, we passed a bipartisan bill, an extension of current tax rates for all Americans through the end of 2013. Then, the week before Christmas, the House again passed legislation to avoid defense sequestration by cutting spending. But as usual, both bills lie in the graveyard of the Senate, where good bills go to die. Mr. Speaker, it's time for the Senate and Senator Reid to man up, consider these bills, and get serious about the root of the problem: spending. We got here by spending too much, not taxing too little. And that's just the way it is. ____________________”