Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2009

CONTACT: Leslie Shedd
(202) 225-5565

Lucas: We Need to Refocus Efforts to Improve Economy

Calls for Tax Cuts, Less Wasteful Spending, and Review of Mark-to-Market Rules

Washington, DC - Congressman Lucas appeared as a guest on “Money for Breakfast” this morning to discuss the need for Congress to refocus their efforts to improve the economy.

Lucas on the Stimulus and the Democrat’s Economic Plans:
“There are people hurting across the country.  That’s why I think the actions we take from this point forward, we’ve got to refocus…Focus on short-term stimulus spending, not long term programs, and get an immediate pop.  Do something about the capital gains rate.  Let’s rev up the engine in this country.  So far, we have not focused as intensely on that as I would have hoped we would have.”

“I am a great proponent of reducing the capital gains rate.  I am a great proponent of driving resources in a quicker, more refined fashion.  We’ve put out a lot of money and we’ve added a lot of money to the national debt.  We could have targeted it better.  Obviously, we have got to target it better from this point on.”
 
Lucas on Companies Returning TARP Funds:
“When the captains of industry, the people who are responsible to their stockholders, the people who have a major vested interest of their own resources in these institutions look at the standards we have applied…and say, ‘Hey, it’s not worth it.  We want out.  We want to control ourselves again.’  I think that says something about the danger of over involving the federal government in basic business decisions.”

To view this video or for more video clips of Congressman Lucas, please go to http://www.house.gov/lucas/video.shtml or visit his YouTube page at www.youtube.com/user/repfranklucas.

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