Rob Wittman Statement on State of the Union Address: Questions proposals adding to the deficit

Washington, DC – Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-1) released the following statement tonight following the President’s state of the Union Address: “The President’s address failed to look beyond the “Washington” state of mind by suggesting more deficit spending to fix our economy. A partial freeze of the current out-of-control spending levels is not true reform, it is simply a continuation of bad spending habits in Washington. The bad policies that led to the current deficit and the highest debt in U.S. history? That's not change.

As elected leaders, we need to make tough decisions about cutting spending, not spend more. That's why I voted today to cut spending levels back to fiscal year 2008 levels. We cannot afford to add to the huge deficit already burdening our economy. The focus for our country’s future, both short and long term, is jobs; getting people back to work and government getting out of the way. With that we can allow the true solutions to shine: the Americans outside of Washington, DC. We must not stake our hope in the size of government, but in those hardworking Americans working for their American Dream.

“And though we may disagree on policy, tonight will hold a special place in my memory. Members wore black and white ribbons proudly, to honor the victims, our colleague, Gabrielle Giffords, and those lost and wounded in the attack in Arizona less than three weeks ago. In the House Chamber tonight, we sat among heroes in the gallery of the House of Representatives. It was humbling to see the heroes of the Arizona tragedy, and the families who have suffered because of senseless violence. Tonight, we felt their strength; we felt their resolve. Their courage inspires us to keep on, to work towards a better future for our nation.” ###

TEXT CREDIT: wittman.house.gov Washington D.C. Office 1317 Longworth House Office Building • Washington, DC 20515 • Phone: (202) 225-4261 • Fax: (202) 225-4382

IMAGE CREDIT: This United States Congress image is in the public domain. This may be because it is an official Congressional portrait, because it was taken by an official employee of the Congress, or because it has been released into the public domain and posted on the official websites of a member of Congress. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public domain.

Scott Garrett Eliminating Unnecessary Regulations Important to Job Creation

WASHINGTON, January 26, 2011 - Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government-Sponsored Enterprises, delivered the following opening statement today during a House Financial Services Committee hearing entitled, “Promoting Economic Recovery and Job Creation: The Road Forward”: “We’ve focused a lot on potential ‘systemic risks’ to our economy over the last couple years, but as I said throughout the debate on financial regulatory reform, the most obvious and critical systemic risk facing our economy is the massive national debt that hangs over the heads of the next several generations of Americans.

“Addressing that risk, by reducing the size and scope of the federal government, is job number one that Americans sent us to do here in Washington in the 112th Congress. And one of the primary benefits of doing so, of course, will be the benefits related to promoting economic recovery.

“Beyond addressing the budget and spending crisis facing our country, those of us here on this Committee also have an opportunity to review and remove, as the President recently called for, ‘outdated regulations that stifle job creation and make our economy less effective.’

“While the President intends to exempt new regulations called for under Dodd-Frank as well as those from independent agencies, at least one of those agencies, the SEC under the leadership of Mary Schapiro, intends to proceed as if they are subject to the President’s Order. I look forward to working with her and others to eliminate unnecessary regulations of all varieties to help incent job creation and get our economy back on track.” ###

TEXT CREDIT: U.S. Congressman Scott Garrett 2244 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-4465 fax: (202) 225-9048

IMAGE CREDIT: This United States Congress image is in the public domain. This may be because it is an official Congressional portrait, because it was taken by an official employee of the Congress, or because it has been released into the public domain and posted on the official websites of a member of Congress. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public domain.