latest from rpc

Last week, I voted twice against the nearly $1 trillion Wall Street bailout bill in the U.S. House. The first bill (with a $700 billion price tag for taxpayers) failed with an overwhelming bipartisan majority.  Then the Senate passed a second version that was loaded with tax “sweeteners” in an attempt to attract enough lawmakers in the House who voted “Nay” the first time around to switch their vote to pass the bill. That jacked the price tag up to $810 billion.  You’ve got to love Washington.

We were supposed to be voting on a financial bailout bill, but unfortunately we got much, much more.

From the beginning, Congress was delivered a flawed proposal.  The initial Paulson plan lacked sufficient transparency, accountability, and protections for taxpayers.  I was proud to stand with many of my colleagues as we worked to improve this legislation and keep our word to the citizens we represent.  They sent us here to make these tough decisions.