Thaddeus McCotter - Debt, Deficit, Spending, and the Size of Government

2012 Presidential Campaign Website Statements

Restoring Our Core National Principles

“The core of our inheritance from our Founding Fathers is that our liberty is from God, not the government.”

– Congressman Thaddeus McCotter
Our nation is the freest, most prosperous, most charitable and most equitable society in history. Americans have overcome great challenges, expanded freedom and inspired the world. Our legacy is the effort and patriotism of those who have gone before us. We must restore and strengthen the values of our Founding Fathers – hard work, the rule of law, innovation, respect for life and human dignity. We must seize freedom.

In this global age, our challenges include unaccountable government bureaucracies and out-of-control spending; the social and economic upheavals of globalization; the rise of Communist China; and the war for freedom against terrorism.

In response, a leftist Administration has taken America in a “new direction”—back to the 1970s. The Left has proven too costly, too crazy, and too quick, giving Americans:

• More deficits and debt
• More spending and taxes
• More unemployment
• More government
• Less freedom

The federal government exists to serve the American people, so we must shrink the bureaucracy and restore fiscal integrity.

Our prosperity comes only from the private sector. Massive bailouts and government “stimulus” have failed. Middle-class earnings are falling further behind and upward mobility has slowed. This endangers the fabric of our society and causes daily, pressing concern for most American families.

We need a President who understands that big government seeks to bury our freedom, and who instead will bury big government. A President who will make the tough but fair choices to rein in out-of-control spending. A leader who knows that investing in American industry and cultivating entrepreneurial small businesses are key to job creation and growth. A President who puts in place policies that fulfill the promises made to our greatest generation and the truly needy, while ensuring that future generations are not left behind. A President who will stand proudly with our allies and stand with unflinching courage against the enemies of freedom.

We need a President who understands that America’s exceptionalism is not our burden, but our birthright.

Confronting Our Challenges

To confront America’s challenges, we free people must:

• Shrink out-of-control government and end its spending binges.
• Reform our tax system to reduce the burden on working families and small businesses by cutting taxes, while eliminating loopholes.
• Fix our healthcare and Social Security systems for current and future generations.
• Empower the private sector for an economy that creates good, well-paying jobs to reduce reliance on imports.
• Strengthen and support America’s national security, while winning the war against terrorism.
• Have an energy policy based on making all domestic options available.
• Implement immigration reform that maintains America’s unique station as the welcoming beacon for freedom-seeking people, while strengthening border security and enforcing laws against employing illegal aliens.
• Expand liberty and self-government at home and abroad
• Conserve our way of life and its foundations of faith, family, community, and country.

Cut the Size and Scope of Government

Government spending is out of control and must be cut. The Congressional Budget Office says that if current policies continue, the federal government will consume 45% of GDP, up from the 19% limit during the Reagan administration. Before we reach that point, our economy will have collapsed.

We must pass a balanced budget amendment, authorize the President to veto legislative line items, cap growth of federal spending to the level of household income growth, and end duplicative and ineffective federal programs by conducting sunset reviews before reauthorization. 

Voting Record

Balanced Budget Amendment

In November of 2011, the House voted on a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. This particular amendment would have required a three-fifths rollcall vote of each chamber for the congress to spend more than it took in and to increase the public debt limit. It also authorized waivers when a declaration of war is in effect or under other specified circumstances involving military conflict. The measure did not achieve the 3/5 needed to pass in a 261-165 vote. Thaddeus McCotter voted in favor of the balanced budget amendment.

Budget Control Act of 2011

In August of 2011, the House voted on the Budget Control Act of 2011. The legislation raised the debt ceiling in increments and created a committee to find cuts in the budget or other methods to lower the deficit. The measure passed 269-161. Thaddeus McCotter voted in favor of the Budget Control Act of 2011.

Cut, Cap, and Balance Act of 2011

In July of 2011, the House voted on legislation to cut spending on discretionary and other items, cap the amount the federal government can spend as a function of GDP, and require a balanced budget. The legisaltion also provided for an increase in the debt limit. The measure passed the House in a 234-190 vote. Thaddeus McCotter voted in favor of the cut, cap, and balance plan.

Increasing the statutory debt limit

In May of 2011, the House voted on an increase in the statutory debt limit from $14.294 trillion to $16.7 trillion. The increase failed to pass by a vote of 97-318. It was never voted on in the Senate. Thaddeus McCotter voted against the debt ceiling increase.

Return to 2008 Spending Levels

In January of 2011, the House voted on a bill to reduce spending on non-security items to fiscal year 2008 levels. The measure passed 254-165. Thaddeus McCotter voted in favor of reducing spending to 2008 levels.

Debt Ceiling Increase to $14.294 Trillion

In February of 2010, the House voted to pass legislation that dealt with PAYGO rules and increased the debt ceiling to $14.294 trillion. The vote passed 233-187. Thaddeus McCotter voted against the debt increase.

Increasing the Debt Ceiling to $12.394 trillion

In December of 2009, the House voted to increase the debt ceiling to $12.394 trillion. The measure passed 218-214. Thaddeus McCotter voted against increasing the debt limit.

Stimulus - Debt Ceiling Increase to $12.104 trillion

In January of 2009, the House voted to pass the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act - otherwise known as the stimulus. The act passed 244-188 and contained language to increase the debt ceiling to $12.104 trillion. Thaddeus McCotter voted against passing the legislation that contained a debt ceiling increase.

TARP - Debt Ceiling Increase to $11.315 trillion

In October of 2008, the House voted to pass the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act - TARP. Within the act, the debt limit was increased to $11.315 trillion. The legislation passed the House 263-171. Thaddeus McCotter voted against increasing the debt limit to $11.315 trillion.

Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 - Debt Ceiling Increase to $10.615 trillion

In August of 2007, the House passed the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. Included in that legislation was an increase to the debt ceiling to $10.615 trillion. The legislation passed the House 241-172. Thaddeus McCotter voted against the legislation to increase the debt ceiling.

Congressional Budget - Raising the Debt Ceiling to $9.815 trillion

In May of 2007, the House voted to pass the budget for that year. Within the budget was a measure that increased the debt ceiling to $9.815 trillion. The budget passed 214-209. Thaddeus McCotter voted against the budget which contained a debt ceiling increase to $9.815 trillion.

Budget - Debt Ceiling Increase to $8.965 trillion

In April of 2005, the House passed H Con Res 95 which was the budget. Within that legislation was language to increase the debt ceiling to $8.965 trillion. The legislation passed 214-211. Thaddeus McCotter voted in favor of legislation that increased the debt ceiling to $8.965 trillion.

Debt Ceiling Increase to $8.184 trillion

In November of 2004, the House passed legislation to increase the debt ceiling to $8.184 trillion. The legislation passed 208-204. Thaddeus McCotter voted in favor of increasing the debt ceiling to $8.184 trillion.

Debt Ceiling Increase to $7.384 trillion

In April of 2003, the House passed a budget that contained an increase in the debt ceiling to $7.384 trillion. This measure passed the House 216-211. Thaddeus McCotter voted in favor of the budget which included the debt ceiling increase.

Sponsored and Cosponsored Legislation

Constitutional Amendment - Balanced Budget - Cosponsor

Prohibits outlays for a fiscal year from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year unless Congress, by a three-fifths roll call vote of each chamber, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Requires a three-fifths roll call vote of each chamber to increase the public debt limit. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress annually. Prohibits any bill to increase revenue from becoming law unless approved by a majority of each chamber by roll call vote. Authorizes waivers of these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect or under other specified circumstances involving military conflict.

Constitutional Amendment - Balanced Budget - Cosponsor

Prohibits outlays for a fiscal year from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year (except those derived from borrowing) unless Congress, by a three-fifths roll call vote of each House, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Requires a three-fifths roll call vote of each House to increase the public debt limit. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress annually. Prohibits any bill to increase revenue from becoming law unless approved by a majority of each House by roll call vote. Authorizes waivers of these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect or under other specified circumstances involving military conflict.

Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States - Cosponsor

Prohibits outlays for a fiscal year (except those for repayment of debt principal) from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year (except those derived from borrowing) unless Congress, by a three-fifths rollcall vote of each chamber, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Limits total outlays for any fiscal year to one-fifth of the U.S. economic output, unless two-thirds of each House of Congress provides for a specific increase above this amount. Requires a three-fifths rollcall vote of each chamber to increase the public debt limit. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress annually. Prohibits any bill to increase revenue from becoming law unless approved by three-fifths of each chamber by rollcall vote. Authorizes waivers of these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect or under other specified circumstances involving military conflict.

Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States - Cosponsor

Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits outlays for a fiscal year (except those for repayment of debt principal) from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year (except those derived from borrowing) unless Congress, by a three-fifths roll call vote of each chamber, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Requires a three-fifths rollcall vote of each chamber to increase the public debt limit. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress annually. Prohibits any bill to increase revenue from becoming law unless approved by a majority of each chamber by rollcall vote. Authorizes waivers of these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect or under other specified circumstances involving military conflict.

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to balance the Federal budget - Cosponsor

Constitutional Amendment - Prohibits all outlays for a fiscal year (including those for debt service and other debt functions) from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year (except those derived from borrowing) unless Congress, by a two-thirds roll call vote of each chamber, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Requires a two-thirds roll call vote of each chamber to increase the public debt limit. Prohibits outlays for the total budget from exceeding the previous fiscal years' outlays plus population growth and inflation, unless such increase is approved by two-thirds of each chamber by a roll call vote. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress annually. Prohibits any bill to increase revenue from becoming law unless approved by two-thirds of each chamber by a roll call vote. Authorizes waivers of these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect only by a vote of a majority of both chambers. Requires all: (1) outlays above revenues from the previous fiscal year to be accounted for in the outlays and budgets of the following fiscal year, and (2) surplus revenues at the end of a fiscal year to be allocated to a fund to be returned to the taxpayers, determined by legislation before the end of the subsequent fiscal year.

Constitutional Amendment - Balanced Budget - Cosponsor

Prohibits outlays for a fiscal year (except those for repayment of debt principal) from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year (except those derived from borrowing) unless Congress, by a three-fifths rollcall vote of each chamber, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Requires a three-fifths rollcall vote of each chamber to increase the public debt limit. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress annually. Prohibits any bill to increase revenue from becoming law unless approved by a majority of each chamber by rollcall vote. Authorizes waivers of these provisions when a declaration of war is in effect or under other specified circumstances involving military conflict.

CAP the DEBT Act - Cosponsor

Control America's Purse-strings to Deliver a Better Tomorrow Act or the CAP the DEBT Act - Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to make it out of order in the House of Representatives and in the Senate to consider any bill, joint resolution, amendment, or conference report increasing the statutory limit on the public debt if there is any other matter in such measure. Requires a two-thirds recorded vote of Members in the House and a roll call vote of at least two-thirds of the Members of the Senate before legislation increasing the statutory limit on the public debt may be considered as passed or agreed to in either chamber. Permits a successful appeal from the ruling of the Chair in the Senate on such prohibition, but only by an affirmative roll call vote of two-thirds of its Members. Repeals Rule XXVIII (Statutory Limit on Public Debt) of the Rules of the House, and known as the "Gephardt Rule," providing for mandatory adjustment of the statutory limit on the public debt to conform to a budget resolution.

Constitutional Amendment - Balanced Budget - Cosponsor

Proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

User Comments

• • Summary
  • Election Results
  • Voting Statistics
  • Sponsored Bills
  • Controversies
  • Political Positions
  • Speeches / Debates