Flores won't support a “clean” rise in the debt ceiling

Amid rumors and talk of raising the national debt ceiling from its present $14.3 trillion limit, an aide to U.S. Rep. Bill Flores said the Congressman will not vote for a “clean” increase in the figure.

“He won't make a decision until he sees the legislation in its written form,” said Mike Mason, an aide who works in the Cleburne District 17 office, in an appearance before the Bosque County Republican Club.

"You mean he's actually going to read it before he votes on it?" shouted a man in the audience amid laughter and applause.

Quizzed further, Mr. Mason was unable to clarify or expand on his remark. Inquiries to the Congressman's Washington, D.C., office made over the course of two days yielded no further clarification of the issue.

Mr. Flores is a member of the House of Representatives Budget Committee. He recently announced his support of a budget that will cut federal spending by $6.2 trillion over the next 10 years and will at the same time:

- extend the ban on earmarks
- repeal and defund Obamacare, eliminating roughly $800 billion in tax increases
- prevent the $1.6 trillion tax increase called for in the president's budget plan
- lower both the individual and corporate tax rate from 35% to 25%
- restrain government spending to 20% of GDP after 10 years and to 15% in 2050
- cut $4.4 trillion in deficit spending compared to the president's budget
- freeze spending on non-security government bureaucracies at below 2008 levels for five years .

A statement from Mr. Flores' website said that the new budget will end corporate welfare; change Washington's culture of spending; secure Medicaid through block grants tailored to each state's needs; end the raid on the Medicare trust fund by passing any savings on to shore up the fund; force policymakers to come to the table to enact “common sense” reforms to keep the fund solvent for current beneficiaries and make it stronger for future generations; and simplify the tax code by consolidating the six brackets and cutting the top individual rate from 35% to 25%.

“These tough, yet responsible decisions must be made so that we may restore America's promise, property and security for our children and grandchildren,” the statement on Mr. Flores' website concluded.

The Waco Tea Party is circulating a petition urging Mr. Flores to not vote for raising the debt ceiling.