Reply from Congressman Carter

I have received a reply (below) from Congressman John Carter (R-TX). It is a little more specific, but still has some incorrect information and some dangerous positions.

First, Mr. Carter states that "the United States has always paid its debts". This assertion is false on at least two accounts, as documented here: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2011/01/has_the_us_government_ever_def.html

Second, Mr. Carter states that "...failing to raise the statutory debt limit would [be] catastrophic to the world economy and would immediately and irreversibly weaken the full faith and credit of the United States."

A) This sounds an awful lot like the "if we don't bail out Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, General Motors, etc., etc., then the end of the world will come"; they were wrong then, and they're wrong now. I no longer believe the "this crisis forces our hand to do something wrong" claims.

B) The previous defaults did not end the world nor destroy America.

C) Defaulting would certainly

D) Failing to increase the debt ceiling does not logically require a default on debt: first pay your debtors, then pay for your own social (and other) programs. You must service the debt. You are not required to fund the Dept. of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, Dept. of Education, each of which has extra-constitutional (and therefore illegal) mandates.

E) It doesn't matter: it's not your money. It's the money of the taxpayers and of the investors who bought your bonds. You have to pay that back, even if you have to cut your favorite "I may not get re-elected if I don't keep giving the pork/handout/social program.

Sir, my respect for you has just taken a huge hit.

May 17, 2011

Mr. B

Dear B:

Thank you for taking the time to contact me with your concerns about increasing the debt limit. The debt crisis is a serious issue that Washington must address during the 112th Congress.

As you already know, there is debate in Washington about increasing the debt ceiling in the near future. The debt limit was instituted in 1917 when Congress passed the Second Liberty Bond Act. Since 2001 the debt limit has been raised by Congress 10 times, and was last raised on February 12th 2010. With recent news from the Treasury Department, the debt limit is now expected to be reached in August due to "stronger-than-expected tax receipts".

It goes without saying that there needs to be serious plans to reduce government spending when discussing the debt ceiling. Republicans must take a firm stance against those wishing to continue the irresponsible spending habits that brought us to this point. These habits have pushed us to the fiscal brink, and this unprecedented amount of spending must stop. Spending cuts must take priority in the debt limit discussion so that the American people can be assured this will not happen again.

So far in the 112th Congress, I am proud to have voted in favor of Congress' cut to its own budget by 5 percent, a move that will immediately save taxpayers $35 million. I voted in favor of the House-passed, H.Res. 22, legislation that reduces the amount authorized for salaries and expenses of Members, Committee and Leadership offices for 2011 and 2012. Also, The House of Representatives passed H.R. 359, which, if enacted, would reduce federal spending and the deficit by terminating taxpayer financing of presidential election campaigns and party conventions. This legislation has been received by the Senate where it has been referred to Committee on Finance.

The United States has financial obligations, and it is unacceptable not to honor those commitments. Failing to win the necessary concessions on spending cuts would be detrimental to America's future. That said, failing to raise the statutory debt limit would catastrophic to the world economy and would immediately and irreversibly weaken the full faith and credit of the United States. Fortunately, the United States has always paid its debts and remains in good financial standing with other countries, and we must make sure this good standing continues. However we must use this opportunity to ensure drastic spending cuts.

Rest assured I am monitoring this issue and will keep your thoughts in mind as it is discussed in the coming weeks. I will continue to fight for an economic agenda which reflects my principles as a fiscal conservative, emphasizing the value of common sense expenditures, and reforming wasteful government spending. Please know that I am committed to balancing our budget, reforming government spending, and reducing the deficit. Once again, thank you for taking the time to contact me. Please do not hesitate to do so in the future if I can be of any further assistance.

Sincerely,

John Carter

Member of Congress

For more information on what I am doing in Congress, please visit my website at http://www.house.gov/carter. If you would like a weekly update, you may also sign up to receive my newsletter while you're there.

Letter to national reps on economic and fiscal policy

I sent this letter to my senators and my representative:

Dear Sir:

Are you kidding me? Is 14 Trillion in debt not enough? This is reminiscent of the problem exhibited by many American households: "I really want/'need' it, so I'll just buy it on credit."

Look where that has gotten us.

1.

I say, though the heavens may fall, though our credit rating may be hurt, though anything else, STOP THE BORROWING, STOP THE SPENDING FOR NON-CONSTITUTIONAL "good" CAUSES.

The only way to start the upward climb is to hit bottom, abandon the (spending) addiction, clean house and move forward with firm resolve to "never again let this happen." *Then*, our rating, our dollar, and our prosperity will be better than ever, because

Please do not raise the debt limit. Period.

2.

How is it that a private bank - The "U.S. Federal Reserve Bank", is continuing to print currency, devaluing my savings and my earnings, reducing our companies' ability to purchase overseas components and fuel... ostensibly under the guidance of the U.S. Treasury and therefore the U.S. Congress... Stop the printing of money, stop mortgaging our childrens' future. Stop devaluing the currency. Stop giving the Executive Branch more "money" to spend by fiat.

3.

Sir, I have heard that you are the "real deal". If so, then why are you not in the media? You should be on with Sean Rima, Laura Ingraham, perhaps Beck, GMA, every morning and radio show.

Our country is falling down (well, really being mugged and nearly left for dead), and we're not hearing from anybody who gets what's going on, speaking, evangelizing, in the mainstream.

4.

Who is John Galt?

Thank you,

Lane Bryson

To Kay Bailey Hutchison, I changed #3:

3.

Madame, I know that you are not the "real deal". You are part of the problem that has brought us to this precipice. You are probably guilty of accessory to commit treason, and should be tried as such, by your complicit disregard for the wellbeing of our country and our constitution (it doesn't matter that you think something is a "good cause" or "brings home the port" -- it is illegal when it violates the clear and plain language of the Consitution. I asked my other representatives why they are you not in the media -- why are they not on with Sean Rima, Laura Ingraham, perhaps Beck, GMA, every morning and radio show. In your case, my one consolation is that you have not been publicly evangelizing your big-government progressive positions.

Our country is falling down (well, really being mugged and nearly left for dead), and we're not hearing from anybody who gets what's going on, speaking, evangelizing, in the mainstream.

What a world, when genuine acts of treason by political elites are ignored by the law enforcement; while speech that some deem "seditious" is somehow not protected, when of course the intent of the first amendment was exactly to protect those who speak out against the government.

Letter to state leadership on state sovereignty

I sent this letter to our state leadership:

We have a right to defend ourselves and our borders.

We do not need federal money, federal help — we can take care of our own problems. (Since when did every natural disaster become a federal emergency? Really? Please, we states should be self-sufficient… how dependant we’ve become!).

Only, please, don’t let them take our money, if they’re not going to provide the services it was supposed to pay for.

Oh, and all that illegal stuff the US congress and president are doing (let’s call it “extra-constitutional”…), please don’t let them take our money for that.

I expect to pay for the common defense, roads, a postal service, a judiciary, and a few other things. The rest… youcome and take it, you jerks. Everything else should be a state or local taxing issue.

The federal govt would not be a problem, if the states would stand up and stop it. Let the state of Texas defend citizens who pay taxes only to fund the legitimate purposes of the federal govt. By force if necessary. We have the moral imperative. That’s all I need. They won’t kill or imprison us all — they’ll lose public support long before that. Let us only fund the legitimate purposes of the federal govt.

Please, we don’t need more catchy rhetoric, prove you’re not just another big-government progressive republican, who does “just enough to get the 'conservative' vote.”

…really, my federal tax dollars are paying for abortions overseas, for invading foreign countries (Libya) without congressional approval, 3 years of unemployment, etc...

Please help.

If our state and local politicians would stand up for our liberties (those of the state and of the people), the federal government would not be a problem. This union *is* a voluntary compact. And if they will not respect the articles of organization of the compact (that is, the U.S. Constitution), then we ought to depart it.

Nullify. If that doesn't work, then Secede. The only way to stop a mugging is to resist, by force if necessary. We have a right to defend ourselves, and to exit a contract that the other party is not honoring.

Thank you.