Politics

Let the Budget Battle Begin…

Mike is in the Budget Committee mark-up hearing all day today and most-likely well into the night tonight. The Democrats’ budget for Fiscal Year 2009 includes, among other things, the largest tax hike in history, adds $276 billion to the President’s budget, and fails to reform entitlement programs and earmark reform.

During today’s hearing, Mike plans to offer several amendments to the Democrats bloated budget legislation. He plans to offer his “Saving in Appropriations” amendment, which amends the rules of the House to allow Members of Congress to offer budget-reducing amendments to general appropriations bills and, in turn, will reduce the deficit or increase the surplus. He also plans to offer amendments that will close the loopholes in the PAYGO rules (pay-as-you-go), and also one that provides consistant war funding for the troops in a timely manner.

Mike is also offering an amendment to reject an increase in the Estate Tax, or “Death Tax”. He firmly believes that taxing death is not good public policy, as too many small businesses and family farms in District 11 have gone out of business due to the forceful hand of the federal government. Americans are taxed in every aspect of their lives and it is past time to draw the line.

We will keep you posted on the progress and outcome of today’s Budget Committee mark-up. -Anna Koch, Press Secretary to Rep. Mike Conaway

Full post as published by Mike Conaway's Blog on March 05, 2008 (boomark / email).