July 23, 2010
Democratic Congressional Candidate Pat Miles
highlighted his ideas to balance the budget and hold Congress accountable for
spending beyond its means at the Democratic primary debate held at Grand Valley
State University’s Eberhard Center on Thursday, July 22.
Pat Miles said regarding the nation’s deficit, which
reached $1.41 trillion in 2009, “When your average person spends more than they
can afford, they are held accountable for their own financial decisions. We
need to make sure Congress is held accountable when they spend beyond their
means by instituting a 5% pay cut for Members of Congress each year the budget
is not balanced.”
“Congress must do what West Michigan working families and
businesses do when they miss their budget, it must take a hit,” Miles
continued. “If there aren’t any consequences for bad choices, that sends the
wrong message to the taxpayers who are being held to a higher standard. The
citizens of Michigan’s 3rd Congressional District want and deserve
that kind of accountability from Congress.”
Miles also expressed support for "pay as you
go" principles and a Presidential line item veto to cut pork and waste out
of congressional budgets.