Congressman Jeff Flake | Arizona's 6th District
Washington, D.C. Office
240 Cannon H.O.B.
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 225-2635 - phone
(202) 226-4386 - fax

District Office
1640 South Stapley
Suite 215
Mesa, AZ 85204
(480) 833-0092 - phone
(480) 833-6314 - fax

 
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Contact: Genevieve Frye Rozansky 202-225-2635

Congressman Flake: So Just How Broke Are We?


Washington, D.C., Nov 29 - Republican Congressman Jeff Flake, who represents Arizona’s Sixth District, today illustrated the size and scope of the growing national debt.

          The late actor Leslie Nielsen did a great deal to make the movie “Airplane!” a bona fide success. His deadpan humor contributed to the film’s $83 million North American gross in 1980, and helped it land the #10 spot on the American Film Institute’s “100 Years of Laughs” list.

          More impressive still is the fact that the movie was made for a mere $3.5 million, garnering a profit of $79.5 million – nearly 2,271-percent pure gain. The U.S. is so broke that even with 2,271-percent profit, our country would have to make an investment of approximately $572 billion in order to pay down the $13 trillion we owe.

          Seriously dedicated to paying down our nation’s massive debt, Flake feels that surely there are many ways to rein in out-of-control spending.

          “I am serious,” said Flake. “And don’t call me Shirley.”

          Along with Senator McCain, Congressman Flake introduced the Debt Buy-Down Act, which allows taxpayers to designate up to 10 percent of their federal income tax liability to reduce the national debt. The bill then requires Congress to reduce federal spending by that amount.

          More information on the Debt Buy-Down Act can be found here.

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