Republican Whip Eric Cantor's remarks on the debt limit

Celebrating $14 trillion in debt

Republican Whip Cantor released this video today of House Democrats cheering passage of a debt increase that will green-light Congress to spend $1.9 trillion more dollars it doesn't have.

Here is Congressman Shuster's statement on the debt increase:

“Last week, President Obama went to great lengths to extol the virtues of fiscal responsibility to Congress and the American people. House Republicans like me welcomed this change in tone. Unfortunately, the message was dead on arrival in Congress.

Today, just a few short days after the State of the Union address, House Democrats voted to raise the national debt limit by $1.9 trillion–the largest single increase in our history and the third increase since the Democrats passed their failed stimulus bill.

You don’t increase the limit on a compulsive shopper’s credit card to teach fiscal responsibility. Why should we expect anything different from government? It is a self-fulfilling prophecy; if you enable government to spend more, it will spend more.

Since taking control of Congress, House and Senate Democrats have raised the debt limit a total of five times, clearing the way for a growing government to add $3.68 trillion in new debt. This profligate spending must end. Congress must move swiftly to eliminate waste and roll-back spending. The best way to start is to reject the President’s $3.83 trillion budget and keep the President and the Democrats to their promises.”

$14,294,000,000,000 examples of fiscal irresponsibility

No House Republicans voted for the debt limit increase.

Soaking the rich?

Link

Somerset Daily American editorial on KSM trial

Somerset Daily American

2/2/10

"Keep him in Cuba"

It will soon be nine years since terrorists attacked the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. Now the United States is preparing to try one of the suspects in court. The only question is where should the trial be held. The Obama administration is setting aside $200 million to help a city host the trial for one of the Sept. 11, 2001, masterminds, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. The Department of Justice set guidelines that the trial must be held in one of the three locations where a Sept. 11, 2001, crime occurred. That would be New York, Shanksville or Arlington, Va., where the Pentagon is located. New York officials have already asked that the trial not be held there. Local officials are opposed to holding the trial of a terrorism suspect in western Pennsylvania. If the trial would be assigned to the western district court in Johnstown, another federal judge would have to hear the case as Judge Kim R. Gibson was the co-chairman of the Flight 93 Task Force and would probably recuse himself from hearing the case. It could also be moved to Pittsburgh or Erie, both of which are in the western district. U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, R- Hollidaysburg and Somerset, has the right idea. He said the trial should be held in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where Mohammed is being held. Shuster is right. There’s no need for $200 million to be spent on a trial in a city near the attacks. For the city hosting the trial, businesses will suffer from all of the security concerns. Also who’s to say the international terrrorist cells won’t plan an attack on the courthouse where the proceedings will be held? Having the trial in our area will hurt the local economy as well as possibly create safety concerns for U.S. citizens. The suspected terrorist is in a place where American’s won’t be harmed. It makes sense for the trial to be held there without the influences of the outside world. It would be much more cost effective to have a U.S. judge and jury travel to Cuba. The island that includes Gitmo is a good place to keep terrorists from causing more stress and loss of life to Americans.

District Staff Office Hours in Cambria and Clearfield Counties Today

Today, members of Congressman Bill Shuster’s district staff will hold office hours in Cambria and Clearfield County. Details below and on the congressman's website.

• Clearfield Office Hours for Wednesday February 3rd: Staff will hold office hours from 1:00 to 2:00pm at the Irvona Fire Hall located at 130 Julia Street.

• Cambria Office Hours for Wednesday February 3rd: Staff will hold office hours from 3:00 to 4:00pm at the Ashville Borough Building located at 109 Hickory Street.

These office hours are an opportunity for residents to meet with members of Congressman Shuster’s district staff to discuss issues related to the federal government like social security and veterans affairs.

WJAC interview on KSM trial

Congressman Shuster was interviewed today for WJAC's noon news about the possibility of the KSM trial being moved to western PA. Watch the interview here.