July 18, 2011

An Open Letter to the Congressional Republicans: Cut, Run, and Hide Plan is Unacceptable!

Dear Republican Member of Congress:

On behalf of the millions of Americans represented by the undersigned groups, we write in strong opposition to Senator Mitch McConnell's (R-KY) "contingency plan" to raise the debt ceiling and pledge the use of every tool at our coalition's disposal to see to its defeat. Our organizations have united in support of the "Cut, Cap, and Balance" plan to save our budget and our economy, but the McConnell-Reid-Pelosi proposal is best described as "Cut, Run, and Hide." In one fell swoop, it abdicates Congressional responsibility by granting the President the unilateral authority to raise the debt ceiling and undermines our ability to secure real policy changes that will alter our unsustainable fiscal path.

The wave election of 2010, to which many of you owe your jobs, signaled a massive rebuke of unbridled federal spending and trillion-dollar deficits as far as the eye can see. Our nation stands at a crossroads and your constituents did not elect you to stay on our current course and hit cruise control. The debt ceiling debate has provided us with an unprecedented opportunity to steer America in a direction of fiscal restraint and sustainability. We will not sit idly by while that opportunity is frittered away with a plan to avoid hard policy choices in favor of election-year campaign fodder.

That is why we, the undersigned, pledge as follows:

1. We will refrain from backing any Member of Congress or candidate for federal office, or a leadership position in a Republican Caucus, who supports the McConnell- Reid-Pelosi "Cut, Run, and Hide" plan, to the extent that our various legal structures and rules allow.

2. Those of us with Congressional scorecards commit to designating any vote on the McConnell-Reid-Pelosi "Cut, Run, and Hide" plan as a "key vote" that will carry the heaviest weight possible.

3. We will use every tool at our disposal to rally organizations and activists across the country in vigorous opposition the McConnell-Reid-Pelosi "Cut, Run, and Hide" plan, to the extent that our various legal structures and rules allow.

The "Cut, Cap, and Balance" plan to cut our deficit, cap spending, and pass a strong Balanced Budget Amendment is a proposal to create a sustainable fiscal future for generations to come. The McConnell-Reid-Pelosi "Cut, Run, and Hide" plan, on the other hand, is another Washington gimmick to avoid responsibility, kick the can down the road, and hope voters don't notice. We will do everything in our power to ensure that they do.

Erick Erickson Chris Chocola Drew Ryun

Editor President President

RedState.com Club for Growth American Majority Action

Colin Hanna Matt Kibbe

President President and CEO Let Freedom Ring FreedomWorks