U.S. Representative

8-22-2011 Update - Recently penned two Op Eds on this topic.  You can read one in the Tampa Tribune here and the Lakeland Ledger here.

The President and his supporters keep encouraging us to "compromise."   I have heard this time and time again for the entirety of this debt limit debate.  I can't sit by, any longer, and not respond. 

We have compromised.  We voted on a compromise.  We voted on a budget.  We support a half dozen plans.  We have offered well over a half dozen plans.  They are linked below.  The President's plan is linked...nowhere.

The FACT is, the President does not have a plan.  His own Press Secretary admitted today that he does not have a plan (long version) for the Republicans and the American people to judge.  He said that asking for a plan in writing is a "Republican talking point."  Well, I happen to think asking for a plan in writing is neccesary to compromise. 

It is sad that this President makes me miss the common sense pragmatism of Bill Clinton, but he does.  Contrary to the President's foot-stomping, Veruca Salt-like "I want more" press conferences, we have attempted to work with the President.  We have presented budgets, proposals, and plans.  The President answers with only press conferences and preaching.

Detailed action plans that we could then compare against ANY plan the President put forth or ANY plan the Senate put forth are important to coming to an agreement.  In any negotiation, one must know where the other party stands and be assured that the goal posts or the demands won't be moved at the last minute. Unfortunately, the President has put NOT ONE plan on the table and the Senate has not passed a budget in over 800 days.

Below you will see all of the prposals, plans, or deals that Republicans have offered, been a part of, or support.  Most of these, I have supoprted as well.  The President and Senator Reid simply reject these offers and offer nothing in return - except rhetoric and inflammatory statements.  In any negotiation, you need two grown ups.  Right now, there is only one grown up at the table, and it is not the President of the United States.

RSC Budget

Boehner Plan

Ryan Budget

President's Fiscal Commission (President has refused to consider his own Commission plan)

Back to Black

Heritage Budget

Cut Cap and Balance

CATO Institute Budget

These are just a few of the ideas we have offered.  We are still waiting on ANYTHING from the President.

Compromise is a good thing, but I won't compromise my values.  I do not believe that is needed, as I believe there are Democrats who share our values of controlling spending, closing loopholes and preferential tax treatment, ensuring that all pay something, and knowing that it is the people's money, not the government's money. 

I believe there are Democrats we can work with - unfortunately, none of them live at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Dennis