Update: 10/27/2009 Special thanks to Reboot Congress for this video of my signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge at Imo’s Pizza in South County.  Visit Reboot Congress for excellent [...]]]> Update:7/27/2011 With the President demanding more taxes despite the demonstrated harm higher taxes would have on the economy, I wanted to let everyone know my pledge still stands.

Update: 10/27/2009 Special thanks to Reboot Congress for this video of my signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge at Imo’s Pizza in South County.  Visit Reboot Congress for excellent videos of events around town and around the world.

Of the hundreds of Missourians I have talked to over the past several months, not one person has said to me, “Ed, I’m just not paying enough in taxes.”

The working men and women in this district, to the contrary, are deeply concerned that new and higher taxes and fees imposed by Congress will actually stymie business expansion and job creation. For that reason, among many others, I am signing the Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayer Protection Pledge.

Americans for Tax Reform was founded by Grover Norquist in 1985, at the request of President Ronald Reagan. Mr. Norquist will be my guest on Thursday as we travel across the Third District. By Thursday afternoon, folks in Ste. Genevieve, Jefferson and St. Louis counties will have seen me sign a compact with them to never vote for any tax increase as their congressman.

The ATR Taxpayer Pledge I am taking states:

I, Ed Martin, pledge to the taxpayers of the Third District of Missouri, and to the American people that I will:

ONE, oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals and/or businesses; and

TWO, oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates.

As your Congressman, I will oppose more than direct tax increases. I will work to ensure that back-door tax hikes like Cap-and-Trade and ObamaCare don’t destroy Missouri’s economic security.

Make no mistake about it: Cap-and-Trade is a tax on all of us. The average Third District family will see our monthly electricity bill go up by more than $100 EVERY MONTH. Many of our Third District families will see their electricity bills go up by more than $300 every month. Russ Carnahan voted for this national energy tax, intentionally choosing to follow Nancy Pelosi’s lead rather than listen to his own constituents.

Local businessman David McArthur rose to national prominence for challenging Russ Carnahan on this issue. When David and Randy McArthur invited their representative to meet with them to learn what this ill-advised legislation would do to them and other small businesses, Russ Carnahan refused, offering a staffer in his place, and that only after he cast his vote!

That’s not the kind of Congressman I will be.

This district needs a representative who will take the time to listen to the smart men and women who make our economy work. This district needs a Congressman who will not conspire with special interests and radical liberals to jack up the cost of doing business.

I will be a Congressman who puts job creation and real economic growth ahead of lobbyists and earmarks. I will be a Congressman who listens to the will of the people, not the will of Washington. And I will be a Congressman who opposes every tax increase in any form.

Decades of slow growth have cost Missouri another seat in Congress.  There are many reasons that Missouri lags behind robust states like [...]]]>

Missouri Loses a Congressional Seat

Decades of slow growth have cost Missouri another seat in Congress.  There are many reasons that Missouri lags behind robust states like Texas, but suffice it to say that we need to do less of what we have been doing and more of what they are doing.  We will see how the congressional districts are redrawn soon enough, but it is a shame that a state as great as Missouri is not growing at a better rate than it is.

Open House January 2nd

We would love for you to join us on Sunday, January 2nd, from 3- 6pm at Two Hearts Banquet Center 4532 Lindbergh Blvd. (Lindbergh and Gravois) in South County for an afternoon that will fondly recall the fun and fellowship of this past year as well as provide a chance to look forward and discuss all the  opportunities that lay ahead.

Tax Rates Extended at the cost of Billions in Pork

Despite complaining bitterly that extending the current tax rates for two more years ought to incite people to anger (metaphorically “pitchforks and torches”) Senator Claire McCaskill votes “yes” on the “Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2010.”   The final bill was heavily larded with new spending.  The bill also was bereft of spending cuts to offset the fresh outlays.  These facts may have been enough sugar for McCaskill and Representative Russ Carnahan to vote for tax rates they’ve spent a good deal of their careers vilifying.

President Obama’s administration is taking credit for averting an economic disaster which then begs a lengthy series of questions, the first being – what took so long?  Two years of uncertainty, billions in wasteful spending, pork projects and new entitlements have resulted in a weak economy with job anemic growth.  In desperation, and after an epic shellacking in November liberals lead by the president want to be given kudos for not putting another hole in the leaky boat of our economy.

If the president – and candidly members of congress on our side – really believed that current taxation levels are good for the economy, why are they only extended for two years?  Nothing has changed in the economy  other than delaying the debate over the increase.  A two percent cut in payroll taxes is a net good, but the deal includes billions more in spending.

America borrows up to 40 cents on every dollar it spends. As early as 2025 – 14 years from now – 100% of the revenue we bring in will be needed to pay for entitlements and debt.
Congress remains out of control.  While I acknowledge that the new Tea Party and other conservatives are not yet in Washington DC, the next leaders are.  Fiscally, the Democrats are showing that they are as incoherent as they are wrong.  Our team needs to do a better job of sticking to principles of good stewardship.

Keeping the DREAM Alive

America has an enormous problem with illegal immigration on our southern border, yet congress continues to try to sell Americans “Amnesty Before Enforcement.”  Congress has no track record of offering credible enforcement of our nation’s immigration laws and while many of us might be sympathetic to the plight of a young man or woman in America due to the criminality of their parents we cannot create yet another incentive to come to America in a repeat of the amnesty before enforcement under the Reagan administration.

Senator Claire McCaskill and Congressman Russ Carnahan both voted for yet another illegal alien amnesty despite (or because of) the many loopholes the DREAM act contains that are ripe for gaming.

America is a wonderful nation, and no one could fault someone who wishes to live here, but we have to have a rational, controlled immigration policy.  Americans are going to have to keep after Congress until we get it through their collective thick skulls.

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

Our military is not a test environment with which liberals can engage in experimentation.  We have a professional, all volunteer fighting force that has a singular mission of projecting American power and interests by force of arms.  It can be dangerous, demanding work and it calls upon many sacrifices and subordination of personal goals and desires to the needs of the mission.

Homosexual men and women were and are able to serve honorably in our military and have for as long as we have had a military.  Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was a reasonable compromise policy in which the military has been directed to not “hunt” homosexuals and those who were gay have been asked to keep their private lives private.  I believe the overwhelming majority of servicemen and women who are gay accept that the mission is more important than their personal life and are satisfied by the bargain. Over 80% of honorable discharges under DADT have been initiated by a service member breaking their part of the agreement by making their sexual orientation a matter of unit discipline.

Senator McCaskill and Congressman Carnahan may have secured for themselves the accolades of the left by ignoring the concerns of our combat troops but they have introduced a potentially disruptive variable into the volatile mix of a military in a protracted war.  I hope my grave concerns are never realized, but I fear the self-righteous indulgence of these thoughtelss leftists will have awful consequences.

Thanks for reading.  I cannot wait until the Sunday after next!

Like Robin Carnahan did as a Senate candidate, Senator Claire McCaskill is trying to recast herself as a fiscal conservative in the waning days of the most despised congress in [...]]]>

McCaskill and Senate Spending Bill

Like Robin Carnahan did as a Senate candidate, Senator Claire McCaskill is trying to recast herself as a fiscal conservative in the waning days of the most despised congress in 30 years.

83% of Americans disapprove of congress today, and that figure is overwhelming enough that even a tax and spend liberal like McCaskill is willing to buck her majority leader and feign disapproval for the 1900 page omnibus spending bill.  This bill is laden with pork, is crammed full of the same sort of spending repudiated in November’s election.

McCaskill’s Fox News denouncement of this expensive, expansive bill won’t fool many of us.  Liberals always act as if history began that morning.  This irresponsible omnibus spending bill mimics the last one.  A fiscally responsible Senator would have objected to that bill as well.  The reality is that McCaskill has a lengthy record of supporting massive new spending, supported TARP, the failed stimulus, cap and trade and Obamacare.  All of these measures serve to heap enormous burdens on our economy – just as the increase in taxes she supports will.

Liberal Senator McCaskill should vote against allowing Harry Reid to ram a spending bill through that simply continues last congress’ irresponsible spending into next year, but Missourians should not fall for the last minute conversion.

See Also: Senate Omnibus Bill: Nearly 2,000 Pages of Runaway Spending and Pork

Obamacare Unconstitutional

U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson in the Eastern District of Virginia has ruled that the individual mandate – and all aspects of Obamacare dependent on it – is unconstitutional.

The issue will undoubtedly end before the Supreme Court where Obama has succeeded in appointing two justices with a very poor understanding of how the constitution is meant to work.  Lower courts have been perfectly OK with Congress’ demand that a citizen minding their own business can be forced to buy something that they may not want, illustrating the need for both a president respectful of constitutional limits and a Senate that will refuse to allow such activists onto the bench.

The omnibus spending bill has a billion or more dollars set aside to advance this unconstitutional monstrosity.  Our Senators and Representatives need to oppose funding the implementation of Obamacare before we dig ourselves in any deeper.  Congress created this mess – it is up to congress to clean it up.

See Also: What if Obama’s healthcare law required every American to buy a gun? How’d you feel about that?

In the News

I was flattered to learn that Hotline ran a story about my future plans to run for office, indicating that I am eyeing the Senate.  Candidly, my plans for the moment are to stay warm, celebrate the advent of the Savior, keep an eye on Congress and look forward to seeing you January 2nd (see below).

Open House Jan 2nd

We would like to invite you to an Open House January 2nd, 2010.  We’ll be gathering between 3 and 6 p.m. at Two Hearts Banquet Center, 4532 Lindbergh Blvd, St. Louis MO 63127 (Lindbergh and Gravois).  Join us and enjoy some fabulous sweets and treats provided by McArthur’s Bakery.

Thanks for reading.  I look forward to seeing you soon
Ed

Election Integrity

On election day in November you may recall that a number of problems arose throughout the state and in our area.  One issue was the failure of Secretary [...]]]> Before we get on to some of the holiday mischief that the Congress and President Obama are making, let me update you on some Election Day news.

Election Integrity

On election day in November you may recall that a number of problems arose throughout the state and in our area.  One issue was the failure of Secretary of State Robin Carnahan to keep the statewide voter database running.  This failure plagued election workers throughout our state.  With the voter database inoperable for most of the day election workers were unable to check the eligibility of many citizens to vote.  When this happened, citizens report being asked to cast provisional ballots or being denied the right to vote.  This is a terrible failure and strikes at the heart of our election process. Robin Carnahan is our top election official.  If she cannot maintain a basic voter database, then she must resign and make way for someone who can.

I have written two letters to Secretary Carnahan, the latest on December 13th, to ask her to explain how and why this critical  database was down for most of the day.  If there is a good reason, let’s hear it.  If she lacks the resources to make sure it does not happen again, she should ask for them.  Voters should know that Robin Carnahan will do her job and the voter database will work as expected.

You may also recall that the Chair of the St. Louis Election Board hired a security firm to “secure” the Board offices on Election Day.  This firm was also on the payroll of my opponent Congressman Russ Carnahan.  As the facts have slowly become public it appears that Ms. McCann broke the law regarding hiring.  Last week, I asked that Attorney General Kris Koster address this conduct.  McCann should be held accountable in an effort to make sure that it does not happen again.

The integrity of our voting system relies on a functional and reliable systems for running elections.  It also requires that our election official conduct the people’s business in a way that gives confidence.  When a database fails on election day or an election official engages in illegal conduct, we all lose.  Citizens deserve better and should demand it.

Open House Jan 2nd

We will be having an Open House on January 2, 2011 to celebrate our campaign, to spend time together, and to talk about the future.  Please join us at Two Hearts Banquet Center in South County from 3-6 pm.  Please bring your friends and family for refreshments including – as usual – McArthur’s Bakery desserts!

Tax Deal is a Bad Deal

There are at least three major problems with the pending tax bill, but before we examine these, let’s first acknowledge what is good about it.

The good thing is that liberals are finally admitting on record that allowing working men and women – and their employers – keep more of what they earn is a good thing for the economy.  Keynesian economics attempts to stimulate demand, but we need to do is stimulate enterprise.  You do that by telling entrepreneurs that the risks they take will pay off.

Farmers do not plow, plant or harvest when there is a tornado brewing.  They park their equipment in as secure a place as possible and head for the storm cellar.  They do not do this because they do not care about the hungry of the world.  They do this because during a storm, you have to protect what you already have.  Businesses are still in a “storm warning” mentality, primarily concerned with preserving their business.

This leads to the first problem I have with the details of the tax bill.  It is being sold as stimulation for the economy, and it is not.  Payroll taxes are being temporarily cut, but other than that, we are only extending the current tax regime by two years.  This is better than having taxes jump up, but this is not a marginal rate cut.  I hope it has a positive effect, but so far these rates have not been particularly simulative and we have no reason to expect a Reagan-like acceleration in economic activity.

Further, we have barely kicked the can down the road.  Two years is not the kind of timeframe that allows businesses to engage in healthy long-term planning (even the Soviets made plans for five years!)  Tax rates need to be stable for long periods of time, and the looming promise needs to be lower taxes, not higher.  This threat of higher taxes in two more years will have an effect on the economy, and it won’t be good.

My second problem is that the deal includes a tax hike on estates.  Today, there is no estate tax.  William Buffet and Bill Gates Sr. are welcome to send the IRS a check for their estates if they so choose, but farmers and other business owners who have accumulated wealth by being wise stewards ought not be penalized for dying.  It is immoral for the government to demand a fresh cut from wealth that has already been taxed many times over.

The third problem is spending.  Like the much loathed Cornhusker Kickback and Louisiana Purchase to pass Obamacare, politicians are promising billons in spending to buy off votes from liberal members of congress.  Moreover, no cuts in spending are being made to offset the new spending.  Again, business leaders are not stupid.  Spending today must be paid by taxes collected tomorrow.  These levels of spending will have to be paid for somehow and entrepreneurs know they have had a target painted on their wallet for the last four years.

The President begrudgingly offered a weak-beer “compromise” (calling us “hostage takers” in the process) that gets his team billions more borrowing and spending while offering a mere two-year extension of tax cuts and a huge increase in estate taxes.  This deal was born out of the kind of wheeling and dealing that the Tea Party opposed.  All around, this deal stinks once you get past the shiny wrapper.  It is not why our team won in November.

Thanks for reading.  I look forward to meeting you again soon.
Ed

A recent episode detailed “yacht [...]]]> “Donnybrook” is a television show, run on local public station KETC channel 9.  Panelists focus on local issues typically engaging in a spirited back and forth among local media figures.  Anyone who loves St. Louis will become an instant fan (one of the legendary panelists Martin Duggan has endorsed my candidacy).

A recent episode detailed “yacht gate”, a controversy involving Russ Carnahan and his decision to berth his luxury yacht across the river in Alton (follow the link below – the segment starts at about 22 minutes).  While Alton may provide the preferred amenities for caring for his yacht, it has the added benefit of allowing our Congressman to avoid personal property taxes.

Having St. Louis’s favorite media curmudgeon Bill McClellan acknowledge that my objections to Carnahan’s decision have a point is something of a rush. I would like to expand on the theme Mr. McClellan and others began.  I would also like to rebut the charge that this is “absurd” and “meaningless” or that this is just a political story.

It is both a political story and a big deal.  Russ Carnahan has voted for every major tax increase to cross his desk.  Cap and trade, and increase in estate taxes, the taxes and fees contained in Obamacare are just a few.  Does anyone think Russ Carnahan will vote to block a value added tax?

Therefore, one can logically conclude that Carnahan thinks Americans are just not paying enough in taxes.  It follows then that since Russ Carnahan is an American, he would think he is not taxed enough either.

That’s not how he lives.

Russ Carnahan has structured his boat ownership in such a way as to avoid paying taxes.  I certainly don’t begrudge a man a tax break, but from a congressman who clearly thinks Americans need to pay more taxes it demonstrates an stunning myopia.  Not only does it look bad (imagine the fun his campaign would have if I had my Ford truck registered in Belleville to avoid taxes) it shows that Carnahan has at best addled thinking when it comes taxation.  He either thinks he owes too little and ought to pony up, or he thinks we are taxed enough and ought to resist new taxes.

The more likely explanation is that Russ Carnahan simply does what speaker Pelosi asks of him, without thinking too much about it.  His own health care benefits – and that of his staff – are threatened by Obamacare.  Does this sound like a man who is carefully considering the impact of legislation?  Like all of us, he wants to minimize his tax bill because he thinks he pays enough already.  Unfortunately for us, the perks and power that come from being Nancy Pelosi’s “low maintenance” congressman matter more than protecting his constituents from job-killing tax burdens.  In all due respect to Ray Hartman, the care and thoughtfulness Russ Carnahan puts into his decision making about issues like taxation are at the very core of governance.

Russ Carnahan lives as if we are taxed enough, but votes as if he is not.  I think the way he lives is the correct position, I just wish he’d vote that way.

That’s how I will vote as your congressman.  I will not raise your taxes.

April 22 Donnybrook

“It’s moored in Alton, the aides add, because that’s the closest harbor to the city of St. Louis, where both officials’ families reside. The closest one in Missouri for a pleasure boat is in St. Charles County, too far away for two urban families [...]]]> Missouri Congressman Carnahan gave the following excuse for docking his yacht in Illinois.

“It’s moored in Alton, the aides add, because that’s the closest harbor to the city of St. Louis, where both officials’ families reside. The closest one in Missouri for a pleasure boat is in St. Charles County, too far away for two urban families who both live in the city close to the Mississippi River, the congressman’s staff says.” (St. Louis Beacon, Jo Mannies, April 20, 2010)

It appears that Congressman Carnahan reads maps as thoroughly as he read the health care bill.  Check out the distances noted in the map below.

I call baloney.  I don’t believe that berthing his yacht in Illinois is just a convenience issue.  If the Missouri Department of Revenue has been paid its due, then a simple slip of paper showing taxes paid – like the one you and I have to show to get license plates – would put that part of the controversy to rest.

This issue matters because Congressman Carnahan votes for laws that we are obliged to follow. Too many politicians conduct themselves as if these minor laws are for the little people. Maybe if those among us with means – especially those who vote for increased taxes – were less creative about avoiding taxes those tax hikes would not be needed.

Ed,

This is my major gripe..Republicans who claim fiscal conservatism. voted against the stimulus,..but still earmark funds, and lobby for constituents to get stimulus funds.

Hey, I will vote and donate $$$ to a candidate, incumbent who, votes for reduced spending, AND [...]]]> The following comment was posted in another blog page. I thought it deserved a full-throated response.

Ed,

This is my major gripe..Republicans who claim fiscal conservatism. voted against the stimulus,..but still earmark funds, and lobby for constituents to get stimulus funds.

Hey, I will vote and donate $$$ to a candidate, incumbent who, votes for reduced spending, AND does not earmark, doe not lobby for government spending for his district!!

I worked as a contractor at two Federal Agencies..IT IS MY DEEPLY HELD BELIEF: you can eliminate 40.0% of the Federal Civilian Work Force…and the work would get done.  The feather bedding is that pervasive!!!!

So where are you on this????

Believe me, when I write the check for my taxes I fume about the pork-barrel spending in which both parties indulge. It’s common for pols to invoke “the children” for this policy or that, but my children right this minute will owe at least $40,000 – and this is just the debt that the Federal government has on the books.  Unfunded liabilities are a looming concern that dwarfs even this figure.

I will not support the earmark system that Congress has been engaged in.  It is secretive, not transparent and too often wasteful.   I do not believe in robbing Peter’s kids and grandkids to pay for Congressman Paul’s memorial rock garden and recycling center. This is is a terrible crime.

A caveat – the private sector does not have the capacity to fund certain types of projects, like dams, levies and bridges.  I would much rather these infrastructure projects be managed and funded by the states and I think we need to move in that direction.  However I will be less hostile to projects that have an effect on a broad swath of America’s citizens, not a payoff to a local group of supporters.

As to public sector employees – I don’t know about the percentage you cite, but I know that there are many good, entrepreneurial people working in the public sector who would be far more productive in the public sector.  The private sector has to trim labor costs but during this recession the only industry reliably gaining jobs and raising pay is State and Federal government.  Many of my friends and colleagues are starting businesses or finding new career paths after being laid off in across-the-board layoffs.  They will survive and thrive because they are Americans and that’s what we do.  I see no reason why public servants should be exempt from this economic reality.

I am going to need the vigorous support of fiscally responsible men in women like you in the days ahead.  I will not be buying the support of politically active groups with earmarks nor am I promising to.   My opponent does and will, an egregious example being the $90 million in subsidies his brother is slated to get for his wind farm.

That’s a lot of scratch.  Politically connected folks need only peel a few layers of bills off that fat, taxpayer-funded wad of cash to bankroll a politician.  Those who are used to the free-flowing milk and honey from the taxpayer are going to scream and whine like the world is ending.  The moment I lay my hand on that spigot the press will stick a camera in their face and they will lament that I am against sunshine and rainbows.  We’ll have to gut-check ourselves daily and not waver from the task of saving our financial future.  I’m up for the challenge, but I’ll need your continued support.

Thank you for the excellent question.

P.S. For the record, I am for sunshine and rainbows.

Ed Martin with small business owners discussing the current business climate

Tuesday afternoon (Feb 23, 2010) I had the opportunity to have a round table discussion at Imo’s Pizza in South County.  The owner Brian was kind enough to host this discussion with fellow business owners.  After a few minutes of conversation and enjoying good [...]]]>

Ed Martin with small business owners discussing the current business climate

Tuesday afternoon (Feb 23, 2010) I had the opportunity to have a round table discussion at Imo’s Pizza in South County.  The owner Brian was kind enough to host this discussion with fellow business owners.  After a few minutes of conversation and enjoying good St. Louis style pizza and toasted ravioli, we began to go over concerns they have about the current business environment.

“I don’t need a loan, I need customers” was one of Brian’s poignant statements.  He was addressing the obsession this President has with getting banks to lend.  Certainly there are businesses who depend on access to lines of credit, but Brian’s concern was the fact that no amount of loans would make up for the fact that his customer base is seeing their disposable income eroded.  Some are out of work but more are feeling the crunch of other issues such as increased consumer prices.  Brian believed these factors were forcing his customers to tighten their belts.

The owner of an insurance agency noted that his business was seeing a lot of business owners calling him to see if they can economize on the costs of their policies.  Health insurance costs became a topic of discussion.  Premiums are on the rise.  The owner of a local nursery indicated that she has to carefully balance her staffing to prevent health insurance costs from destroying her bottom line.

We talked about the creation of association pools for health insurance.  Small businesses, among other groups, could band together to create larger risk pools just as large corporations can and negotiate better rates.  For instance, a pool could be made for all Imo’s pizza franchisees making a pool of hundreds.  This measure would cost almost nothing while doing a much better job of solving a significant portion of the uninsured issue.  I’d like to end the restrictions that keep these associations from flourishing and plan to do my part at the Federal level.  This is one of many inexpensive health insurance reforms that can do a lot of good and do not require the heavy hand of the Federal government.

An attendee working in real estate noted that after years of “if you have a job and a pulse, you get a loan”, banks are tightening up their standards.  Easy homeowner credit was fueled by a long series of misguided efforts by the Federal government to distort the mortgage lending market. Now, the credit crunch was hurting otherwise viable businesses.  The nursery owner noted that her business depends on a line of credit to operate.  If the bank, driven to restrict lending by losses in real estate, trims her access to this credit line she will face very difficult days ahead.  These responsible business men and women felt that they are paying the price for the folly of others.

The consensus was that government has become an obstacle, not just through taxation and regulation, but by creating great uncertainty.  What will energy costs be next year?  It depends upon the success of Cap and Trade legislation.  What will health care costs be next year?  It depends upon what version of the health care legislation passes.  I don’t think anybody believed it would relieve their burden.  All assembled believed that the course government was on would make the business environment harder.  The question was to what degree.

This input and that of many other meetings I have had will inform my policy decisions.  My opponent has a track record of avoiding talking with small businesses, preferring to cavort with representatives of well-connected corporations in photo-op summits.  No surprise that Russ Carnahan’s latest rubber stamp will be to borrow more money and watch it get funneled to the politically connected interests in Washington.  I will represent the interests of all businesses, and that includes the beleaguered entrepreneurs who cannot afford to pay a lobbyist to bend Russ Carnahan’s ear with a fat contribution.

“Without restoring fiscal responsibility, our economy can’t fully recover. The large deficits we inherited as a result of reckless borrow-and-spend policies of the last administration have put pressure on funding for important priorities such as job creation. We are long [...]]]> My opponent Russ Carnahan recently released a statement on fiscal discipline.  Here is a quote:

“Without restoring fiscal responsibility, our economy can’t fully recover. The large deficits we inherited as a result of reckless borrow-and-spend policies of the last administration have put pressure on funding for important priorities such as job creation. We are long overdue to reestablish tough common-sense action to restore fiscal responsibility.”

This is strong talk for a congressman who was nominated by Citizens Against Government Waste as “Porker of the Year.”  Fiscal discipline is a philosophy, not a catchphrase.  People who believe in fiscal discipline pay their bills, balance their checkbooks and don’t go into debt for frivolous expenditures.

I believe in fiscal discipline as a way of life, not as a slogan.  While working in Governor Matt Blunt’s administration we opened ourselves up to intense criticism by proposing cuts to wasteful spending.  Rent-seeking bureaucrats were vexed by the Missouri Accountability Portal where they must post their expenditures for all the world to see.

What has Russ Carnahan done in the cause of fiscal discipline? Has he ever refused to support a budget bill as too “porky?”  Has he ever voted “no” on fat-laden legislation? Russ Carnahan voted with his party to raise the debt ceiling enabling the Federal government to further plunge our nation into hock.  How is that fiscal responsibility?

President Obama has spent the last 18 months saying one thing and doing another.  Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid have looked Americans straight in the eye and told us that health care legislation would not raises taxes and ration care despite the plain language of the text.  Russ Carnahan has been right there alongside them, voting “yea” to mortgaging Missourian’s future.

This state’s motto is “Show Me” and Russ Carnahan has nothing to show for his newfound belief in “fiscal responsibility.”  His voting record makes his recent conversion to the church of fiscal discipline laughable.  Congressman Carnahan has rubber-stamped every spending initiative Speaker Nancy Pelosi has asked him to.  Russ Carnahan may be contemptuous of our intelligence, but we in the Missouri 3^rd are not buying it.