Author, revolutionary, and one of our nation's Founding Fathers, Thomas Paine once said "When a government is just, taxes are few." Paine warned of largess in government and excessive taxes. In 2007, more than 200 years later, Americans surrendered nearly 30% of their income to federal and state governments. I would venture this tax rate is not what Paine and many of the Founding Fathers had in mind.
As Americans work harder to make ends meet, we have one more bill to pay in April -- our federal taxes. With high unemployment and so many middle class families struggling just to get by in today's economy, the majority party in Congress wants you to pay for bigger government. During this time of economic uncertainty, the number one priority for Congress should instead be to create jobs and strengthen the economy, not grow government and increase taxes on Americans.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal endorsed Congressman Heller's amendment to the Democrats' health care bill requiring the use to citizenship verification tools to determine eligibility for taxpayer-funded health care benefits:
President Obama's frenzied attempt to nationalize health care has hit a few snags, despite the best efforts of liberal congressional Democrats.
Posted by: Staff in Fiscal Responsibility on
July 15, 2009
With federal spending out of control, Dean is leading the fight to make Congress lead by example on fiscal responsibility:
A handful of House Republicans have introduced a bill to freeze Members' Representational Allowances during times of high unemployment and national debt.
The following originally appeared as an op-ed in The Hill. -Staff
Cap and trade equals energy tax. That is why I strongly oppose and voted against H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act. In fact, as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee which has jurisdiction over tax issues, I helped lead the debate in opposition to this bill. This new energy tax will affect every man, woman, and child in our country. Every time you turn on a light, cook your family dinner, or take your kids to school you will be taxed. Air travel, food prices, electricity costs and transportation costs will skyrocket. This tax increase will kill jobs and further damage an already struggling economy. The mining, housing, farming, ranching, and tourism industries will all be devastated at a time when Nevadans are hurting the most.
Congressman Heller introduced legislation to prevent federal tax dollars from being used to employ illegal immigrants on Tuesday.
The Nevada Appeal reports:
Posted by: Staff in Fiscal Responsibility on
June 22, 2009
Last week, Congressman Heller introduced legislation in Congress to bring fiscal responsibility to the halls of Congress, quite literally. Dean called for Congress to slash its own budget next year by $51 million, eliminating a proposed 8% increase in spending by Congress.
Watch Dean's speech calling for Congress to cut its own budget.
Posted by: Staff in Fiscal Responsibility on
April 15, 2009
As the only Nevada delegation to vote against the Wall Street bailout, Congressman Heller proudly joined 2,000 grassroots activists demanding fiscal responsibility in Washington at the Carson City Tea Party today:
Thousands of Nevadans in Carson City and Las Vegas rallied Wednesday as part of nationwide tax day "tea parties," joining demonstrators across the country in expressing frustration and demanding fiscal responsibility from government.
Posted by: Dean Heller in Fiscal Responsibility on
March 5, 2009
The following originally appeared as an op-ed in the The Ely Times. -Staff
I don't need to tell Nevadans that our economy is struggling.
Congress can help hasten an economic recovery by embracing pro-growth policies that place more money in the pockets of Americans. At the same time, we need to assist those who have lost their jobs and need help.
Unfortunately, Congress recently passed a $1.1 trillion dollar spending bill that invests in big government instead of the American people. Getting our economy back on track will require three things: the stabilization of our financial institutions; recovery of our housing market; and putting the federal government's fiscal house in order.
The roots of our economic troubles are found in the volatility of the stock markets and our banking institutions. In response, Congress passed a $700 billion bailout of our financial institutions. I was the only member of the Nevada delegation who opposed this legislation because it made taxpayers responsible for Wall Street greed without solving our economic troubles. Solutions to this problem exist that do not place current taxpayers and future generations at risk or push our country further in debt. Congress should instead pass legislation that protects the taxpayer, assists with bad assets, and allows the market to correct itself.
Posted by: Staff in Fiscal Responsibility on
October 3, 2008
Congressman Heller was the only member of the Nevada delegation to vote against the Wall Street bailout today.
Dean opposed the bailout bill because the plan lacks oversight and accountability for taxpayer funds, and puts Nevadans on the hook for the $700 billion in deficit spending:
