August 30, 2010
Congressional candidate Pat Miles challenged Justin Amash to take a pledge to institute a 5% pay cut for Members of Congress each year the federal budget isn’t balanced.
Miles said, “Members of Congress need to be held accountable for balancing the federal budget. I will work to institute a five percent pay cut for Members of Congress each year the federal budget is not balanced in order to hold Members of Congress accountable for spending beyond their means.”
“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 continued, “Out of control federal spending makes it more difficult for our government to pay for lower taxes for small businesses and for programs that create jobs.”
Miles expressed support for pay-as-you-go budget principles and for instituting a presidential line-item veto to cut pork and waste from bloated congressional budgets.
Miles campaign spokesperson Amy Fetherolf said, “While Justin Amash has pledged to protect corporate tax loopholes that encourage companies to ship jobs overseas and inflate the federal deficit, he talks about his supposed fiscal responsibility. It is time for Justin Amash to put his money where his mouth is."