Hoosiers are not much for double talk. In Indiana, we expect folks to do what they say and say what they do.

That's why, as a Hoosier, it was hard to miss the irony in President Obama's announcement this week that his Administration wanted to implement "pay-as-you-go" federal budgeting. The idea behind PAYGO LM-laughingis simple: new spending or tax cuts must be balanced out by spending cuts or tax increases elsewhere in the budget.

For this President, it was a remarkable pronouncement. To quote the Wall Street Journal, "Coming after $787 billion in non-stimulating stimulus, a $410 billion omnibus to wrap up fiscal 2009, a $3.5 trillion 2010 budget proposal, sundry bailouts and a 13-figure health-care spending expansion still to come, [the President's] latest vow of fiscal chastity is like Donald Trump denouncing self-promotion." (Click here to read the entire Wall Street Journal op-ed).

The truth is we are witnessing the greatest peacetime spending binge in U.S. history. The federal budget is expected to run a record $1.84 trillion deficit this year and nearly double - that is right, double - our national debt over the next eight years. This year's deficit is nearly 5 times the prior record deficit of just a year ago. (For a few more thoughts on PAYGO, click here.)

We can and must do better! The only way out of this mess is true fiscal restraint and polices that lead to job creation and economic growth. That has been our approach in Indiana in recent years.

As a former State Legislator, I am proud to have served on the House Ways and Means Committee and in House Leadership when Governor Daniels came to office in 2005. Then, working together, our state's fiscal leadership crafted the state's first balanced budget in eight years - a budget that, without a tax increase, turned a $600 million deficit into a $300 million surplus in a single year.

We are going through tough times right now in Indiana. But, from a budget perspective, we are doing much better than most states because of the fiscal restraint shown in the prior four years.

It's really pretty simple. Hoosiers know that America cannot spend itself out of a recession or borrow its way out of debt. We also know that raising taxes in a recession is the worst thing government could do to get our economy turned around.

With your help, we can take that same commonsense approach to Washington!

Thank you,
Luke


Shelby County Leaders Endorse Luke Messer
Several City and County Leaders Voice Support for Messer's Congressional Candidacy

(Shelbyville, IN)- Republican former State Representative Luke Messer announced on Tuesday thenames of several Shelby County leaders who endorse his candidacy for Indiana's 5th Congressional District Republican Primary.

"I'm truly honored to have the support of so many Shelbyville and Shelby County leaders who continue to make a real difference for our community," Messer said. "Our campaign team grows daily and with the help of leaders such as these we will succeed in bringing new ideas and delivering positive results for this District and our Country," Messer continued.

Shelby County leaders who endorse Luke Messer include:

•    Shelby County Prosecutor Kent Apsley
•    Superintendent of Shelbyville Central Schools David Adams
•    Shelby County Commissioner Tony Newton
•    Shelby County Commissioner Kevin Nigh
•    Shelby County Councilman Scott Asher
•    Shelby County Councilman Bob Carmony
•    Shelby County Councilman and former County Sheriff Tom DeBaun
•    Shelby County Councilwoman Linda Sanders
•    Shelby County Councilman Terry Smith
•    Shelby County Councilman Tony Titus
•    Shelbyville City Councilman Brian Asher
•    Shelbyville City Councilman and former Republican County Chair Dick Fero
•    Shelbyville City Councilwoman Kim Owens
•    Shelbyville City Councilman David Phares, II
•    Shelbyville City Councilman Jeff Sponsel
•    Former State Senator Bob Jackman
•    Former Shelbyville Mayor Betsy Stephen
•    Former Shelby County Councilman Brent Fuchs
•    Former Republican County Chair Roger Laird
•    Former Republican County Chair Lee McNeely