Video: Rigell on Government Accountability
By JR Hoeft | Friday, September 23rd, 2011 | Policy“Our government is not holding people accountable. We want promote the people who are performing well, reward them, take more of an entrepreneurial approach… and if necessary, fire someone who is not performing well.”
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JR Hoeft
Conservative to the core; liberal with his opinion! J.R. has been involved in politics for over a decade and has worked on several campaigns in Hampton Roads. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Chesapeake and the Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia. He is also the director of “Blogs United” in Virginia. E-mail J.R.. Follow J.R. on Twitter.
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35 Responses to "Video: Rigell on Government Accountability"
Yes, we certainly know about firing people if they don’t perform, and Scott Rigell has joined the list of endangered species. He needs to be defeated for his total lack of concentration on creating jobs. Following Cantor around as he does everything he can do to protect hedge fund managers and the rich and wealthy does not qualify as representing the people of Hampton Roads. If we wanted a yes man, we would have said so. No, we want a Representative who has a laser focus on job creation and the status of the middle class which has been hollowed out by the policies of the republicans in the House of Representatives that has been focused on creating turmoil and everything but jobs. Scott may have said he would be focused on the economy, but that has simply not been the case. Time for a relief pitcher who knows how to throw strikes.
Your liberal pain, Scott’s conservative gain.
I liked this one myself. About the damage caused by contaminated dry wall manufactured in China and his efforts to help the victims. Perhaps a 30% “surcharge” on all imported Chinese products to pay for things like this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBG_zV9MonU
And now Barry, Harry and the “green democrats” may shut down the government in a week or so.
No money for the victims of Hurricane Irene. Need THAT money to bail out billionaires.
Yawn, Mike Barrett who thinks help for the “middle class” is supporting $1 Trillion stimulus that actually increased unemployment, and thinks that President Obama giving away HALF A BILLION DOLLARS of taxpayer dollars in the form of guaranteed loans to a failed energy company (SEE SOLYNDRA) that was also one of his biggest fat cat donors.
Sorry, but give me a leader like Scott Rigell who fights against raising taxes during a recession, votes to repeal the job killing “health care reform” legislation, and pushes back on the regulatory climate strangling small businesses.
Because President Obama and the Democrats have done such a great job helping the middle class during this recession. More like helping fat cat donors from Solyndra in the name of “green jobs” that have gone bankrupt
Awesome video, I love Congressman Rigell asking the questions of these bureaucrats we all wished we could ask! Finally someone in DC willing to ask the hard questions!
I think Representative Rigell should practice the accountability he preaches to his constituency. On two separate occasions (with two subsequent retransmissions) I have inquired on two separate issues through his dot gov website. Unanswered, were questions on HR 1380 which the Representative was initially a co-sponsor then later rescinded, and one of the only two in the entire Congress to vote nay on S 486. The only communication I had with my representative is one-way through buffer posting and mailings asking for money.
Strike 1: Patriot Act.. FAIL
Strike 2: Debt Ceiling Hike.. MASSIVE FAIL
(broke pledge with tea party)
Strike 3: You’re fair game for a primary challenge
Pass the soap test and come squeaky clean on the Tea Pledge regarding the Fed.. C’mon Scott.
Yes “VA is for politics”, I do think we need increased spending, inceases in revenue, and long term cuts in order to spur growth and create jobs and reduce the deficit and over time, the debt. This is the formula proposed by every bi-partisan commission. It is not rocket science, and the failure to do so is displayed for all to see in Europe. A quick move to a cuts only strategy has resulted in cutting off growth in GDP, with the resultant risk of reentering recession. Exactly what Boehner/Cantor/Rigell would have us do. Any republican who seriously believes that the nation will start to grow as we should be simply cutting government is simply blind, and a bit nuts as they remain oblivious to the actual effects of this tactic playing out elsewhere.
Rigell is right on here. Exposing the waste in the military and anywhere else in the government helps protect our military from cuts that will impact our readiness and add to America’s job loss. Scott campaigned on changing Washington and shining a light on waste and abuse. He is doing this here – boldly and effectively.
Mike barett; if government spending leads us to economic growth, why is GREECE about to go bankrupt and Germany’s economy is actually growing the fastest and is the strongest in Europe after they cut spending
They say insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result
I guess that defines mike barrett, who thinks another obama stimulus would work after the first failed
I for one got a fast response from Rigell’s office when I inquired about banning earmarks (he did) and pushing a balanced budget amendment (he supported that as well)
No one is perfect, but I have found Mr Rigell very accessible with his town halls and phone conferences with constituents. He said he would ban earmarks and he has, he said he would vote to repeal obamacare and he has, he said he would oppose all tax increases and he has and he said he would cut his own budget, which he has
Solid batting average in my opinion!
Amen
This is definitely the right direction for the country. I can’t believe there is still talk of spending MORE money in Washington. How in the world could that be? Rigell is right – there is study after study pointing to waste in the government. I don’t understand why we don’t go after that first instead of automatically talking about tax increases?
As someone who has worked for the government for 10 years – YES! RIGELL IS RIGHT! There is no accountability. Not everyone is doing a bad job, but the ones who are are getting away with it. There’s a agency designed to ferret that out – the Government ACCOUNTABILITY Office. I wish Rigell had oversight of that. Look at the stuff they find: http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-933T
Umm, How can someone claim that Rigell is not available to his constituents? He answers the Facebook, about half the time, himself. He is out there, at events, quite often, available to just sit down and discuss things with. Scott has to be one of the easiest to get ahold of public figure I remember being in this 2nd district area.
This absolutely infuriates me. I didn’t even know the government was allowed to pay for golf outings. What a crock. I can’t event take home 75% of my paycheck and I’m paying for some schlub to play GOLF?
I find it so sad when people just lob complaint after complaint. What has Mike done to help the country besides whine? Stop hiding behind your computer and run for office if you think it’s so easy!
Left wing liberals like Mike just love to attack anyone that doesn’t think $14 trillion in debt are bad ideas, realize that Obamacare is a disaster for this country, and have that painful feeling in their gut that their President is going to get demolished next year
It has been a long time since I posted here. I regularly read, but this thread made me post. I work for Rep. Rigell in the District office. Wally I’ve known you since the 90′s. I invite you, turbo, Mike Barrett and everyone here to call me in the office 757-687-8290. We’ll talk specifics on any and all issues. Your voice will be heard and you will be listened to with respect. If you feel that our office has not been responsive, then I truly apologize. I look forward to hearing from you.
Well, thank you for your offer Richard. If you would just state the positions on the two items I sited, that’s all I am asking. Please check your website, because it doesn’t acknowledge via email that the request was received; however, the website page acknowledges the user entry.
Well “Virginia is for Politics”, if you think the debt is the issue, why do you excuse the half of that put up by the disastrous policies of the last republican administration that fought two wars and an increase in medicare drug payments financed on the nation’s credit card. Point is, the strategy to recover from the disastrous effects of the policies on the republican Bush administration is required not by partisanship, but by economics. The federal spending policies are not the same as required by a household, and every competent bi partisan commission has recommended the same thing; increased investment now, increased tax revenue, get growth going, then a decade long plan to reduce the deficit and the debt. If we do what the republicans want, and just cut expenditures, we will go back into recession. There is simply no doubt about that. Frankly, I want to avoid that for the business for which I work, and for my personal financial situation. All you so called fiscal conservatives should too.
Richard you are an upstanding guy. I would prefer to ask right here and read right here what the congressmans justification was for voting yes to more debt.
Mike,
Taxing people ever more out of their hard earned money is not going to increase growth, or jobs.
I realize that the typical Democrat mantra is to always raise taxes….can you explain this? Or are Democrats so lazy or weak brained that they cannot come up with anything else, or think that the government actually creates wealth?
Sorry…when you look at the Pig Book, that says it all. Some of the things we are paying for is an outrage for those of us actually working for a living. It just goes on & on. Just visit CAGW…Citizens again Govt waste.
Until the Federal Govt can prove to me that what they are already confiscating from my paycheck is spent properly, then there should be NO TAX INCREASE OF ANY KIND.
Yes,. I am a Sorensen Institute Graduate (PLP 2010), just like Scott Rigell.
Go Scott!
Thanks,
Pam Brown
Thanks Pam; I am a Sorensen Institute graduate (PLP) as well. But more to the point. Yes, you, Scott, Cantor, and Boehner, and the Republican Study Committee in the House, will throw this country back into recession with their politics of enforced extreme austerity now. Every major bi-partisan commission has said essentially the same thing; cut unnecessary spending, increase revenue, mostly by not increasing rates but by closing loopholes and deductions, get GDP growing by short term infusions, and agree to a long term, 4-5 trillion dollar reduction of the debt by 2022. If we did these things, confidence would be restored, the economy would grow more rapidly, and the rating agencies would be satisfied. But no, only the republicans oppose what we need, and for me, now own our inevitable plunge back into recession. Frankly, most americans now believe that, and no video from Scott’s office will change that one iota. Scott is intelligent enough to know what has to be done, but he is not courageous enough to speak truth to the power of the republican party.
FACT: Deficit under the last year of Bush – $480 Billion
FACT: Deficit under Obama – $1.6 Trillion
FACT: Entire Federal Budget in 2001 $1.6 Trillion
Even under the worse of Obama, we are spending JUST ANNUAL DEFICITS that are larger than the ENTIRE FEDERAL BUDGET OF JUST TEN YEARS AGO
Even if you cancel all the Bush tax cuts, they wouldn’t even cover 1/4th of the deficits. This isn’t about “enough revenue”, its about lack of spending control
BTW – The supposed “revenue killing” Bush Tax rates brought in more revenue in 2007 to the federal government then in the HISTORY of the Republic.
But of course, according to Mike Barrett, we just need to spend MORE money, waste our time with MORE Stimulus, give away HALF A BILLION in guaranteed taxpayer loans to top Obama Donors and their companies.
Well VA is for Politics, did you happen to notice that the international fiscal and banking system nearly collapsed in 2008, and would have done so had not republicans and democrats intervened to stop that from happening? Are you blind to the effects caused by Bush in fighting two wars, but not paying for them and the expansion of Medicare by using the nation’s credit card? I guess you forgot about those actions. I am reminded everytime I review my 401k statement which has never recovered from the Bush insanity, the effects of which we are still fighting.
@Wally, and others who had questions about the bills cited, I wanted to get Rep. Rigell’s position exactly right on the bills alluded to earlier in the discussion. This is where the Congressman stands, in his own words:
“As you may know, Rep. John Sullivan introduced H.R. 1380 on April 6, 2011. This legislation provides tax credits to expand the use of natural gas vehicles (NGVs), with an emphasis on heavy-duty and fleet vehicles. Among other provisions, the bill provides tax credits for the purchase of natural gas-fueled vehicles; extends existing tax credits for using natural gas as a vehicle fuel; and extends and modifies existing credits for establishing NGV refueling properties.
As you noted, I originally cosponsored this legislation and later, after meeting with experts from think tanks on both sides of the issue, opted to withdraw my cosponsership. To be clear, I support the use of natural gas as a clean and safe energy source. The expanded use of natural gas is essential to moving America towards energy independence. I favor the expanded use of all domestic energy sources in an effort to reach this goal. At the same time I have deep reservations about the way in which H.R. 1380 promotes the use of natural gas by relying on specific subsidies. I do not believe the federal government should be in the business of choosing winners and losers when it comes to energy sources. Rather, I advocate for a free market approach to determine the success or failure of an energy source—not federal tax credits. This is the best long-term method to promote the viability of any energy source, including natural gas.
Senator Roy Blunt introduced S. 846 on April 14, 2011. This bill would name a federal Courthouse in Missouri after Senator Kit Bond who left office on January 3, 2011. Senator Bond served in the United States Senate from 1986 to 2011 and served as the Governor of Missouri from 1981 to 1985. As you mentioned, I was one of two members in the House of Representatives to vote against this bill. The reason is that I do not support naming federal buildings after politicians. I believe that federal buildings should be named only after our fallen heroes, the brave men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in defending our country. I respect elected officials, including Senator Bond, but I cannot support politicians naming buildings after former politicians. This is a vow that I made to my constituents.”
I hope that clears it up. I will make sure that Rep. Rigell sends this to you on Congressional letterhead later this week. We strive to be the most responsive office in Washington. We need to work on our speed. It is a notable critique.
Thanks Wally. We need you to hold us accountable. Please contact us anytime.
Richard
Mike Barrett, you claim that we “need increased spending” and “increases in revenue” in order to “spur growth and create jobs.” As a businessperson, you should know better. If increased spending were the answer to our economic woes, we would be experiencing an economic boom currently. After all, government spending as a percent of GDP increased from a recent historical average of 18% to 25% under the current administration. Similar to FDR’s disastrous spending increases, this “temporary spending” increase caused further unemployment and economic stagnation.
Let’s be clear, Mr. Barrett. You propose MORE government spending and MORE revenue increases. As a businessperson, you should understand that increased government spending siphons money away from the private sector by (a) diverting tax revenue that would have remained available in the private sector to fund capital projects and (b) diverting capital from private sector business development loans to government deficit financing.
By lowering corporate tax rates, capital gains rates, and personal income tax rates, capital would remain in the hands of those who know how to put resources to efficient use. This capital doesn’t lie dormant! These same businesses and individuals direct this capital —which would have been confiscated by the government– to yet more productive uses! THIS is the solution for economic prosperity; and THIS is the solution pursued by many Republican freshman.
Mike Barrett, you claim that we “need increased spending” and “increases in revenue” in order to “spur growth and create jobs.” As a businessperson, you should know better. If increased spending were the answer to our economic woes, we would be experiencing an economic boom currently. After all, government spending as a percent of GDP increased from a recent historical average of 18% to 25% under the current administration. Similar to FDR’s disastrous spending increases, this “temporary spending” increase caused further unemployment and economic stagnation.
Let’s be clear, Mr. Barrett. You propose MORE government spending and MORE revenue increases. As a businessperson, you should understand that increased government spending siphons money away from the private sector by (a) diverting tax revenue that would have remained available in the private sector to fund capital projects and (b) diverting capital from private sector business development loans to government deficit financing.
By lowering corporate tax rates, capital gains rates, and personal income tax rates, capital would remain in the hands of those who know how to put resources to efficient use. This capital doesn’t lie dormant! These same businesses and individuals direct this capital —which would have been confiscated by the government– to yet more productive uses! THIS is the solution for economic prosperity; and THIS is the solution pursued by many Republican freshmen.
Well actually, you have missed my point. I totally agree we must do a number of things at once, not just one. These actions are co-dependent; one won’t work by itself. Yes, we need increased revenue now, just as we need cuts now. However, absent a long term deficit and debt reduction plan, these won’t assure the markets nor work by themselves. In the short term, we need to get people to stay in existing jobs and to create new ones, so a new stimulus is required. But we must collect more tax revenue, even as rates can be reduced if loopholes and unnecessary tax credits are removed from a simplified tax code. Both sides need to agree on this, and on a decade long campaign to get back to pay-go. Frankly, compromise and intelligent response to this job crisis which is part recession and part a changing global job picture, is required, not the bashing of each other that is the norm in Congress that results in nothing getting done.
Your analysis neglects two important facts:
1. Ten year plans in Congress have a history of failure. As explained before, while a current Congress may reach an agreement on future spending goals, a future Congress is under no obligation to honor that commitment! For this reason, a Balanced Budget Amendment is required.
2. You suggest that stimulus is needed to spur this economy into growth. This stimulus is in the form of increased government spending. Unfortunately, while it is easy to see the construction job, battery manufacturing job, or teaching job “created” by that spending, it is more difficult to understand the economic harm such spending perpetuates. Every dollar spent by the government on a “created job” is either a dollar printed by the fed used to finance government debt (thus devaluing the currency), a dollar borrowed by the government (enslaving future generations and driving up the cost of capital for private business), or a dollar confiscated from true wealth producers in the form of a tax (leaving less dollars for business expansion).
These policies have been followed by the current administration, further damaging the economy.
Mike Barrett, your big government policies have damaged this nation under the guise of helping people. Whatever the intentions of politicians with your archaic beliefs, the results are still disastrous.
I commend leaders such as Representative Rigell with enough fortitude and economic sense to propose common sense ideas such as the BBA to return this nation’s prosperity.
Of course each Congress can undo what was done before. But if the markets and the rating agencies react as they say, the pressure of deviating from the agreed upon benchmarks will help. Lastly, your big government criticism ignores the fact that business is absolutely dependent upon government programs and services to be successful; it is not either or, it is both. Unless you acknowledge that, you will continue to see only half the picture.
Mike, interesting economic theory you have there. If business is “absolutely dependent upon government programs and services to be successful”, and with the government providing stimulus, then the economy will never grow beyond the level that government “stimulates” it. Then you speak of taxing the “stimulus” so the Government can take it back.
You Democrats are trying to build the equivalent of an economic “cold fusion” reactor that will generate more money than the government dumps into the economy as “stimulus”. If you go back and review the first and second laws of Thermodynamics and apply them to your “stimulus”, you will come to the realization that the only way you can make “stimulus” work is with magic, or a term from the past… “voodoo” economics.
Sorry Tim J, science was never my strong suit; neither was economics.
But I do know that stimulating private busines will create employment. Those workers will spend in the local economy. The local economy will have greater income, Main Street will perk up, poeple will spend more, and the economy will gain more traction and grow.
I have seen the firing of government workers in necessay jobs, and the effect this has caused in Virginia and elsewhere. To suggest that these cuts does not depress local economies is to ignore reality.
The republican mantra of cutting tax rates so the rich will invest more seems to have failed miserably over the last decade, and regretfully, it appears most of their investment has gone overseas seeking higher rates of return. I simply do not see how this tactic alone actually helps americans get back to work.
Mike, this isn’t about jobs, its about money and who controls it.
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