Floor Statements

Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 273, I was at a doctors appointment across town. Had I been present, I would have voted, ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, this day marks an historic moment for our country. The rise in Federal spending that has defined the last 3 years has ended.

The bill that we will pass in the House today contains the largest cuts in our budget since the end of World War II. This bill is by no means perfect, and I, like many Americans, want more cuts, and I believe we will get them. These cuts are just the start.

The words of Winston Churchill, which were spoken during a different battle, echo true today. He stated, ``This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end; but it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.''

Mr. Speaker, it is time to move beyond last year's business and start doing the work the American people sent us here to do. Tomorrow, we will take up legislation that will save us not billions but trillions; and as this House considers addressing the debt ceiling, the Senate and the President need to know that these cuts do not represent the end-- they represent our resolve to continue the fight.

Mr. Chairman, it is my strong belief that the pre- eminent reason a majority of Northern Michigan's citizens selected me to be their representative in Washington was to do everything possible to rein in out-of-control Federal spending. My focus has been to support such efforts while working to ensure that policies coming out of the Nation's Capital--tax, monetary, and regulatory--serve to encourage private enterprise so Northern Michigan has the chance to experience economic growth.

My first 44 days in office have taught me a great deal about the budget process and the ``spending ways of Washington.'' Each day we have been in session I have typically had 5-10 meetings with organizations, companies and Washington reps all seeking to keep their programs free of any spending cuts. No one in Washington has asked me to spend less. In fact, it seems in every Washington meeting while there occasionally is a recognition of the doom America faces if the current spending continues, each meeting usually closes with an expected refrain ``. . . yes we need to spend less but not our program.''

By contrast, during my first visit home, just about everyone in the First District asked me to make sure the Federal Government spends less. In Northern Michigan there seems to be a strong consensus that Federal budget red ink can no longer continue at record pace.

Here are my guiding ``spend less'' principles in this 112th Congress:

Shared Responsibility: Before there is any comprehensive entitlement reform effort, every Federal department should be prepared to live with less money in 2012 than it received in 2011.

Sunlight and Transparency: All spending decisions should be made in a fully transparent legislative process. No backdoor earmarks, no special interest amendments. If a program has merit its supporters should defend the program in public floor debate.

Tighten the Revenue Spigot: Simply sending more money to Washington is not going to solve the problem of unchecked spending; every year the U.S. Treasury receives more money; every year the Federal Government spends more than it takes in. Consequently, increasing taxes is not the answer.

If not now, when? I have publicly promised to limit my career in Congress to just three terms. America's future is more important than any one of us in Congress, certainly more important than any political job. I'd rather do what I think is right than simply keep this position. I trust the voters.

In my view, the debt is not a Republican issue or a Democrat issue. It is an American issue.

The failure of previous Congresses to act means America now faces a $14 trillion debt. For every dollar Congress allocates the U.S. Treasury has to borrow up to $.40 to pay for it. That means indebting ourselves to countries like China and mortgaging our children's future.

Let me be clear, this will not be easy. To stem the tide, many tough decisions will need to be made. Northern Michigan--like the entire country--has a backlog of worthy projects and its people have benefited from admirable public programs. The reductions in H.R. 1 affect every community in the nation. These are hard decisions for Congress to make, and not everyone will be happy with everything that has been proposed. This is understandable, but I believe these reductions are necessary to show that Congress is serious about returning our country to a sustainable financial path.

The Continuing Resolution to be considered on the House Floor this week is just the first step. Fortunately, the President's budget proposal is merely a suggestion that Congress can improve upon. In my view, Congress needs to offer a more fiscally sound budget for FY 2012.

Additionally, it is my view that Congress will need to consider reforming entitlements programs. Social Security and Medicare are important programs that millions of Americans depend on. Without reform, both of these programs face bankruptcy. In my opinion, Congress needs to consider solutions to avoid this crisis that ensures benefits under Social Security and Medicare are not reduced for those Americans currently receiving benefits.

And I think most of my colleagues agree this is not a time to play politics. The inflamed rhetoric and scare attacks on cutting grandma's benefits have no place here. This week's vote will not take away benefits for anyone receiving benefits. Instead, Congress will have completed the first step and as the Constitution dictates, the Senate and the President will have their say.

Madam Speaker, before coming to this House, I have actually been taking care of patients for the last 30 years, and as a surgeon, I work with patients to provide care and earn their trust. The doctor-patient relationship is the very foundation of the practice of medicine. Unfortunately, the health care law passed in the last Congress does not build the doctor-patient relationship; it undermines it. Full of hidden costs and red tape, the law overregulates and limits patient choices.

We need to repeal this bill, start over, and craft health care legislation that actually puts patients first and puts them in charge of their care. Repealing this bill is not the end of health care reform. This gives us a second chance to tackle the problems of our system while focusing on what makes our system great.

Madam Speaker, while campaigning this fall, people in northern Michigan made it clear that they are not happy with the government takeover of health care. That's why I'm pleased that one of my first votes in Congress will allow me to keep a promise to my constituents and vote to repeal that legislation.

As a surgeon who spent more than 30 years working directly with patients, I view the government takeover of our health care system as an attack on the doctor-patient relationship. Now, as a member of the freshman class of 2011, I invite all Members to join us in repealing this law and developing realistic health care reform that lowers costs, improves insurance options, and puts patients, not government bureaucrats, at the center of health care.