U.S. Congressman Dave Weldon, M.D. : 15th District Of Florida

Do you know how your hard-earned taxpayer dollars are being spent?
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	7.18.2008 The House is scheduled to consider H.R. 6515, the Drill Responsibly in Leased Lands (DRILL) Act. This bill contains the “use it or lose it” language that does not open up any new lands anywhere to American energy exploration and production. Read More 6.18.2008 Democrats vote against removing ban on oil shale exploration. Read More

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Federal Spending

The new Democratic majority in Congress intends to increase federal spending and pay for new spending by raising federal taxes. Its budget plan, which narrowly passed the House, sets the federal government on a path for huge spending and taxes increases.

Spending – The Democrats’ budget plan puts spending on automatic, providing an increase in federal spending exceeding the regular inflation rate. Upon taking control of Congress in January 2007, Democrats quickly approved a $6 billion increase in federal spending for 2007. In May they added another $20 billion in extra “emergency” spending. For 2008, their budget plan includes a 9.2% increase in discretionary spending – more than four times the estimated inflation rate. The American people are not expected to get a 9.2% pay raise, and they can’t afford to finance a 9.2% increase in federal spending. This $80 billion increase in discretionary (non-entitlement) spending in 2008 will readjust future spending and amount to over $270 billion in higher spending over the next ten years. I have voted against these spending bills.

Taxes – The Democrats’ budget plan also calls for the automatic repeal of much of the tax relief that has been enacted between 2001 and 2006. Unless Congress approves legislation to extend this tax relief, it will expire. Unfortunately, their budget plan requires that to extend the existing tax relief, taxes must be raised elsewhere to “pay for tax relief.” In other words, under their plan taxes are going to increase, it’s just a matter of where and when. The lower taxes enacted over the past six years have spurred economic growth, helping to increase revenues to the U.S. Treasury. The higher taxes proposed by the Democrat majority will hamper economic growth; force Americans to seek tax shelters, and stifle our economy.

Deficit – During debate on Republican tax relief, Democrats assuredly announced that the deficit would rise. It didn’t. In fact, it's expected to drop further…unless. The unless is whether the Democrats insist on fiscal policies that would siphon more money from American families, giving them less buying power and putting the skids on a robust economy. Increasing spending by more than $80 billion this year alone will stifle economic growth and job creation, and will only hamper our ability to pay down the deficit.