Compromise Should Be a Two Way Street
We don't have many one-way streets in North Missouri. For most of us that's a good thing. If you've ever tried to run errands in a downtown area with one-way streets, you know how hard it can be to get them done. Sometimes you have to take three lefts just to get to the next street over. It's a lot simpler to get around when you have streets that go both ways.
It's also easier to conduct negotiations when it's a two-way street. Unfortunately, the White House seems to believe that it knows best. The President presented a plan to avoid the fiscal cliff that had $4 in tax increases to every $1 in spending cuts. That's simply unacceptable.
I've said that I believe increased revenue is a part of the balanced approach needed to solve this crisis. We can raise revenue by eliminating loopholes in the current tax code. Raising tax rates in tough economic times will hurt our economy.
Revenue is only one part of the equation though; we also need to reduce our spending. Washington has run trillion dollar deficits for the last four years. We have to rein in the chronic overspending. We've offered the President a plan to increase revenues and decrease spending.
We believe in a balanced approach to avoid the fiscal cliff. However, we need the President to join us in good faith negotiations. This is an opportunity for Washington to work together; unfortunately all we've heard from the White House is my way or the highway.
Sincerely,
