(On October 6 2008, I sent letters to each candidate running for US Congress in Harris and Fort Bend counties, asking them to publicly commit to fiscal responsibility via PAYGO. I’m posting the replies (and lack thereof) by race / district, but I’ll also be writing about my general reaction to this civics experiment, and in some cases, for which candidate I would vote.)
Texas’ Congressional District 10 (map) has three candidates running for this seat. Neither incumbent Michael McCaul (R) nor challenger Larry Joe Doherty (D) responded to my repeated requests for a response.
No, will not support PAYGO
Further information:
Matt Finkel is challenging for this seat. Here’s his email response (I didn’t include the standard campaign closer):
Sorry for not getting back to you earlier. I am incredibly busy getting signs and flyers out, answering political questionnaires and speaking at events. As to your question, you know I’m a Libertarian?
Fiscal responsibility is the number one issue for all 173 Libertarian candidates on the ballot in Texas. And more specifically pay as you go is no longer good enough; the Government is going to have to spend less than it brings in if we are going to work toward a sustainable economic model.
We need to dramatically cut spending and stop borrowing money we do not have. We need to change the way we fight the war on terror by using a more Constitutional approach, basically letter of mark and reprisal, in other words make it more of a police action. End the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; close most of our military basses around the world so we can have a strong military for defense. Stop earmarks and discretionary spending.
(Note: Yes, I knew he was a Libertarian. I didn’t want to exclude anyone when I sent the letters.)