Mr. McLaughlin Goes to Washington!

Last week I spent two busy days in Washington D.C. and I have to tell you, the trip left me even more convinced we are on the right path.

The schedule was packed full of meetings with conservative leaders and activists, from whom I felt privileged to hear their views on the campaign and share my vision of being the next Congressman to represent the Third District. I thought I’d spend the next few Mondays sharing with you my views on some of the topics discussed in Washington and how those views compare to the record of my expected primary opponent, Walter B. Jones Jr.

The most often talked about issue in Washington was spending & taxes. We'll start off this series with a look at spending. Despite Walter Jones’ constant talk of being a fiscal conservative, his voting record tells a different story.

The Club for Growth is a national network of thousands of Americans, from all walks of life, who believe that prosperity and opportunity come through economic freedom. The club has an excellent website at www.clubforgrowth.org where you can view their 2007 Congressional RePork Card. This is a listing of how members of Congress voted on the 50 “Anti-Pork” Amendments that were put forward this year. There you will find some examples of the outrageous appropriations of taxpayer dollars and then details as to which Congressmen voted to leave this wasteful spending in the budget by voting against these amendments. It is encouraging to see that 16 Congressmen, all Republicans, voted for every one of the 50 Amendments. The average score for Republicans was 43%. The average score for Democrats was 2%. Do you think our “conservative” Congressman’s score fell closer to the Democrats or Republicans? Well, Walter Jones scored an embarrassing 18%! Jones’ vote in favor of wasteful spending and siding with the Democrat leadership was 39 of 50! Does that sound like the voting record of a conservative?

Unlike Jones’, I will not engage in paying off my political friends with special “earmarks” to fund their pet projects using your tax dollars. I have the fortitude to stand firm in my commitment to reduce wasteful spending and make sure that as many of your tax dollars stay where they belong: In your pocket. Hopefully, Americans will come to their senses next year and reestablish a Republican majority in both chambers and that majority will learn from the mistakes of the past and make the same fiscal commitments I have just made. However, even if the Democrats are still in control, I will not sacrifice my principles in hopes of getting payback in the form of a larger office, a better parking space or a few “trinkets” for the folks back home. After 13 years as a Washington insider, Walter Jones has sold you out. I never will never forget the people of my district and turn my back on them as he has.

Please continue to forward this email to as many people as you can. Keep spreading the word that it’s time for a change.

See you on the campaign trail!

Joe


Quote of the Week: "Those earmarks equal one thing: unnecessary pork barrel spending. In 1994 I promised to come to Washington and do my best to eliminate this kind of wasteful spending, not expand it. While the Constitution allows the Congress to make expenditures on behalf of the American people, especially in times of war, the amount of spending in this bill goes far beyond the scope of anything envisioned by our founding fathers."

Walter B. Jones Jr., Dec. 8, 2003, explaining why he voted against the Republican Omnibus spending bill. How times have changed.