FOR IMMEIDATE RELEASE                                                                                  CONTACT: John Donnelly
September 23, 2010                                                                                                     (317) 848-0201

Burton Statement On The GOP Pledge To America

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN-05) issued the following statement after House Republicans released a new governing agenda entitled “A Pledge to America”:

“We have listened to the people, and our Pledge is a united response.  The major policies in this new governing agenda—job creation and tax cuts, spending cuts and caps, strong national defense and border security, ensuring new laws have Constitutional authority, and the repeal and replacement of Obamacare—give voice to the American people, whose demands have largely been ignored by the current Majority.

“Our Pledge to America is an easy one for me to take, as its philosophies and policies are all things I have championed throughout my public life, if not already supported specifically through legislation.  Above all, our Pledge is something I am proud to take back to my constituents in Indiana.  Hoosiers who read our Pledge will find a genuine commitment to governing through our founding principles and for the priorities of our people. ”

NOTE:  “A Pledge to America” can be found in full here: http://pledge.gop.gov/

The preamble to “A Pledge to America” reaffirms Republicans’ commitment to principles of smaller, more accountable government; economic freedom; lower taxes; fiscal responsibility; protecting life, American values, and the Constitution; and providing for a strong national defense.  This new governing agenda is comprised of five specific policy plans that could be implemented right now if President Obama and Democratic Leaders would allow it:

•    Creating Jobs.  “A Pledge to America” reflects Americans’ demand for immediate action on policies that will end uncertainty for small businesses and help our economy get back to creating jobs.  This new governing agenda contains a plan to create jobs, end economic uncertainty, and make America competitive – including stopping all tax hikes, reining in red tape, and repealing ObamaCare’s ‘1099 mandate.’

•    Cutting Spending.  “A Pledge to America” embodies Americans’ rejection of the now-thoroughly discredited notion that we can simply tax, spend, and borrow our way to prosperity.  This new governing agenda contains a plan to cut spending and reduce the size of government – including cutting government spending to pre-‘stimulus’, pre-bailout levels, imposing a hard cap on future discretionary spending, and ending TARP once and for all.

•    Reforming Congress.  “A Pledge to America” acknowledges that we cannot get our arms around the issues of the day when we have a government that refuses to listen to the people and ignores their priorities.  This new governing agenda contains a plan to reform Congress and restore trust – including implementing ‘read the bill’ reform, allowing for more open and fair debate, and requiring that every bill contain a citation of Constitutional authority.

•    Repealing and Replacing The Job-Killing Health Care Law.  “A Pledge to America” recognizes that the American people continue to squarely oppose the government takeover of health care, with its higher costs, higher taxes, job-killing mandates, and Medicare cuts to pay for a massive new entitlement.  This new governing agenda contains a plan to repeal and replace the job-killing health care law with common-sense reforms focused on lowering costs and protecting American jobs.

•    A Strong National Defense.  “A Pledge to America” reinforces Congress’s responsibility to help provide for a strong national defense and fashion a coherent strategy to confront and defeat the terrorist threat.  This new governing agenda contains a plan to keep our nation secure at home and abroad – including passing clean troop funding bills, keeping terrorists off American soil, and fully funding missile defense.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                        CONTACT: John Donnelly
August 6, 2010                                                                                                  (317) 848-0201

Burton Slams Democrats' Latest Bailout Scheme

Political Bailout Bill Prompts Special August Session Of Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Dan Burton (R-IN-05) issued the following statement as members of the House of Representatives return to Washington for a special August session to vote on a $26.1 billion bailout for Medicaid and teachers unions:

“The ‘bailout for the States’ is typical fare for this Democrat Majority.  Rather than create lasting jobs or learn any lessons from this painful recession, Speaker Pelosi and company continue to throw money at problems and hope it sticks.  Bankrupt States have themselves to blame, and, like California and New Jersey, should be forced to make drastic spending cuts to get their finances in order.  Unfortunately for our economy, this is an election year, and ‘tough decisions’ aren’t part of the Democrats’ campaign platform.

“With November firmly in mind, this $26 billion States’ bailout contains a $10 billion political payout for the bosses of teachers unions.   Rather than let States pare down administrative costs and make necessary cuts to bloated and unsustainable pension plans, the Democrats have seized these budget failures as an opportunity to ingratiate their union-sponsored political base ahead of the upcoming elections.

“Even worse, this bailout forces American businesses to foot the bill for the union payout through a massive tax increase.   The Democrats’ flawed logic holds that taxing foreign subsidiaries of America’s worldwide corporations will rightfully penalize them for ‘sending our jobs overseas.’  In reality, this tax simply makes it more difficult for American businesses to bring foreign earnings back to the United States for investment.   During the recent economic downturn, America’s corporations flooded foreign earnings back to the United States in order to remain financially solvent.  With this tax, the next economic recession becomes much more dangerous, as the private sector will be less able to help itself and more dependent on government bailouts.”

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