Athens Review, Athens, Texas

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February 4, 2010

Local Congressman questions Obama’s State of Union speech

Robby Robertson The Athens Review

DETROIT — U.S. Congressman Jeb Hensarling is jumping right in the middle of the fight against, not only President Barak Obama’s health care plan, but his budget spending.

For Texas Republicans, it didn’t matter much what sweet nothings he whispered in their ear in last Wednesday’s State of the Union speech, they just don’t trust him. Hensarling took him to task right off the bat the very next day.

“I was pleased to hear that President Obama was concerned about the deficit spending in our nation and the national debt that we are laying on our children and grandchildren,” Hensarling said in an email sent to the Review. “I was also pleased to hear that President Obama was proposing a freeze on non-security discretionary spending for thee years -- until I read the fine print.

“It seems this proposal is more about changing news headlines rather than spending lines.  And, if it is about headlines, the headline ought to be ‘President to the Nation: Stop Me Before I Spend Again.’”

In a nationally-televised discussion last week with the President, Hensarling asked if he planned to submit a budget to Congress that would triple the national debt, and continue us on a path for government spending to reach almost 25 percent of the entire national economy.

“Unfortunately, the President did not tell me no,” Hensarling said. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for the President, but he refused to even answer the question. During our exchange, President Obama questioned the spending facts that I presented to him.  I want each of you to know that I stand firmly behind my statements.”

Hensarling said he has spent his entire career to protect the family budget from the explosive growth of the federal spending.

The question Hensarling raised with Obama gained national attention over the weekend as he was on several political talk shows such as The Kudlow Report, the Fox News Hour and MSNBC, just to name a few.

“The bottom line: while President Obama didn't answer my question, he answered it today with his new budget,” Hensarling said.  “It triples the national debt, and puts government spending on a path to equal almost 25 percent of the entire economy.”

Hensarling says he has plenty more to say, not only about the federal spending, but the proposed health care plan.

“Liberal bloggers from around the country have picked up the exchange between the President and me, and your support means everything as we continue to fight for the truth,” he said. “We cannot keep spending the money the way we have been.”

 

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