U.S. Representative

Mr. Speaker,

I rise against raising the debt ceiling and in favor of reality.

Mr. Speaker, my freshman colleagues and I arrived in Washington from various backgrounds.

Many, like me, owned their own business.

Others include:

Auto dealers

Funeral Home Owners

A Dentist

Doctors

Soldiers

Law Enforcement Officers

Store Owners

A Pilot

A Football Player

A Roofing Contractor

And more

In other words, Mr. Speaker, people who lived and worked in the real world.

Many of that same group have been told “We just don’t understand how Washington works.”

The fact is Washington doesn’t work.

But what I really don’t understand is how Washington lives with itself.

Only in Washington is slowing the rate of growth in spending called a cut.

Only in Washington are job creators called a myth, but bailouts are called stimulus

Mr. Speaker, I don’t understand how Washington works and I hope I never do.

The fact that we are even talking about raising the debt limit without any realistic plan to pay off our debts shows just how ridiculous this Congress and this President have become

The fact that this President wants to spend 23 to 25% of GDP when, over the last 80 years this government has never come close to matching that in revenues – regardless of tax rates - is a joke.

The fact that our friends across the Capitol can’t pass a budget for almost 1,000 days could only be acceptable to someone who lives at the Ritz.

The fact that we are printing money to buy our own debt only makes sense if you got your economics degree by passing GO and collecting $200.

Mr. Speaker, this entire government has a choice.

Will we live in the real world, prioritize spending and yes, go without

Or will we continue to play in Congressional Candyland?

The place where some say the sky is blue

While others say the sky is red

And a last minute deal declaring it purple is called progress

Mr. Speaker, the sky is blue

And its time this Congress and this President join the rest of America in the real world.

I yield back