Barletta addresses budget at C of C event
Says common sense lacking in Washington
TUNKHANNOCK - Washington needs to get its "fiscal house in order" and congressmen shouldn't get paid if they can't pass a budget, Rep. Lou Barletta said Wednesday morning at a legislative breakfast sponsored by the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce.
"Common sense is not so common in Washington, I guess you figured out by now," Mr. Barletta, R-11, Hazleton, quipped to moderator Alex Fried of Procter & Gamble.
"Look, I've got four daughters, and if one of them came to me and said she was having a problem making payments on a credit card, I might help her out," Mr. Barletta said. "But, I'd also tell her she'd have to give up that card."
"Suppose she said she not only wasn't giving it up, but was also looking for me to call a friend to get her line of credit increased, what would you think?"
"Well that's the mindset in Washington," he said. "If we don't pass a budget, we shouldn't get paid. We've got to get this fiscal house in order."
Across the board, state Reps. Karen Boback, R-117, Harveys Lake and Sandra Major, R-111, Montrose, and state Sen. Lisa Baker, R-20, Lehman Twp., along with Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey's legislative aide Brian Langan agreed that cuts were necessary to balance budgets.
Sharon Lynett, Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey's legislative aide, also agreed cuts were necessary, "but they need to be smart, focused cuts."
Contact the writer: bbaker@wcexaminer.com