On October 20th, the Connecticut post endorsed Dan Debicella for Congress in Connecticut’s 4th Congressional District. Their Editorial is available online here. Below is my response to their endorsement.

Editor,

I was disappointed to learn that the Connecticut Post has endorsed State Senator Dan Debicella for Congress over incumbent Representative Jim Himes.

Throughout the campaign, Mr. Debicella has failed to provide a realistic plan to create jobs. Instead, he has promised voters they can have their cake and eat it too. No one should be fooled into thinking we can further cut taxes and reduce the national debt in one move without tax increases elsewhere or spending cuts to offset the cost. This is the same tired rhetoric of the past thirty years which led to the $13 trillion debt we are now faced with.

Now more than ever we need leaders in Washington committed to real fiscal responsibility. By supporting a return to the statutory budget restraints (PAY-GO) that created budget surpluses in the late 1990s and cosponsoring bills that make specific cuts to the budget, Jim Himes has already demonstrated his dedication to cleaning our fiscal house.

With the economy struggling to recover, Congressman Himes has worked to help the hardest hit areas of the district, particularly Bridgeport, Norwalk and Stamford. Thanks to his work, these cities now have revitalization projects, infrastructure improvements, and other investments underway that will spur new economic growth in the future.

All of Mr. Himes’ accomplishments have come despite the present stalemate in Congress, a result of the Republicans’ concerted opposition to President Obama. While the Democrats have proposed solutions to a range of issues, Republicans have blocked progress at every step and refused to propose their own alternatives. Dan Debicella’s record of voting with his party 96% of the time in Hartford simply does not indicate that he would be an agent of compromise and bipartisanship in Washington.

A political newcomer two years ago, Jim Himes has proven to be a powerful advocate with strong leadership in Congress. He is the true independent representative the 4th Congressional District desperately needs.

Kevin Sutherland
Trumbull, Connecticut