Posted on 01/12/2009 1:18:47 PM PST by SmithL
WASHINGTON – Tom McClintock arrived in Washington last week, ready to say no.
He'll say no to President-elect Barack Obama's plan to spend roughly $800 billion to rev up the economy. He'll say no to spending billions to bail out the auto industry. And he'll say no to his home state of California and others looking to Congress to get out of their budget messes.
He said the federal government doesn't have the money and needs to spend less to avoid "the same folly" as California, which is projecting a $40 billion shortfall in the next 18 months.
"My state is going to hell in a handbasket, and my country's not far behind," McClintock said in an interview in his new and sparsely decorated office on Capitol Hill.
McClintock, who survived a recount to defeat Democrat Charlie Brown in California's 4th Congressional District, said he wants to concentrate on fiscal issues in his first term. But for now he's busy settling in, adjusting to the rhythms of a new city and new job.
McClintock, the district's first new congressman in 18 years, got sworn in on Tuesday, calling it a sobering experience with "a shock-and-awe quality to it."
He bumped into Ted Kennedy on his first day, making eye contact and saying hello to the Massachusetts senator.
He found an apartment in nearby Arlington, Va., discovering it's much cheaper to live on the other side of the Potomac River.
He's trying to master the city's subway system, joining the thousands of Washingtonians who squeeze into jammed train cars each day.
And he has gotten lost, but he says the U.S. Capitol is a good place to get lost if one must get lost.
"It's been a great culture shock going from the dean of the California Legislature to a freshman...
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
fyi
GO TOM GO!!!
I hope Tom can shine his powerful rhetorical lights on the waste in the federal government. He did so in CA. Not enough listened to him, but it’s important for the sake of history if we are EVER going to learn how NOT to tax and spend ourselves into oblivion (again).
Yep. Too bad that the population of CA didn’t see fit to elect him at least for LT GOV. It was apparent during both elections he is the one who has a knowledge of the budget/corruption in CA. (I only moved from there in 2004; after the recall). He was my state senator when he was in Ventura county.
He’ll be one clear voice, tho.
You GO, Tom!
Oh, how I wish you’d have gotten to be CA’s gov instead of Ahnuld. I voted for ya!
Californian voters are too ignorant to vote in a compotent legislature. They ended up getting the government they deserve. Unfortunately for the 45% of the state that votes Republican, they have to suffer the bad policy.
I could not agree with you more. I am sorry I was one of the ones who voted for Arnold. (I am sorry, CA). I think there was a mindset (and on FR back then, too) that if we as fiscal conservatives could get a little of what we needed/wanted with Arnold then that would be good, while McClintock continued to not poll well.
hate to say it but Arnold is about the best we can do in that state. At this stage, my take is to let a Dem take it over and finish off the collapse of a liberal government. Hopefully something better will rise up from the ash heap.
yeah...that’s why so many of us voted for him. We moved in Dec 2004 to PA and while we have a Democratic governor, this state is not in the same mess as CA. Of course, the illegal issue is not here (yet).
What he needs to do is get in front of the cameras explaining each and every one of his votes.
Best of luck, Tom!
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