But then you also forgot.  At least YOU did Dave Camp.

You forgot about what you said to the 912 Group in Traverse City.  All 90+ of us who were there when you said you would see Obamacare defunded if you couldn't repeal it.  This congress can vote to repeal, but it has no say beyond its walls.

But it still can strike the checkbook. Perhaps lip service is still the best tool of the consummate politician.

And now, the clock is about to strike 12, and that tool cannot save this country from what MUST come eventually; a stripping of services so severe that the federal government will no longer be able to properly secure our safety and sovereignty.  Our government will no longer be able to perform the rudimentary functions it is actually designed to perform.  All the while, those socially devolved folks who have relied on handouts, social welfare and cash for their basic subsistence will likely riot.  Generationally accustomed to redistribution, or thinking that it can somehow work, the leeches that have been created by great society policy will likely topple all efforts to maintain a civil society for decades.

And by golly, a couple of Republicans from Michigan have played their part in the whole affair.

And now Dave, Fred, you guys get to play along as if a trillion dollars in cuts will be enough. A trillion dollars that STILL leaves a deficit spending mechanism, and continued growth of the overall debt which ultimately is the ball and chain on future generations.

You had a chance to say no.  You've had MANY chances to say no. Debt is crushing this great nation.  It cannot be allowed to go higher.  At all.

You can have sleepless nights, or realize that a very sharp fiscal knife, combined with a solid repudiation of the president's executive restrictions is your best solution.

But I do not criticize without offering alternatives, and ideas.  The time has arrived for some very bold actions.  Here are a few suggested solutions.

Defund the executive branch by 65%
Czars have no constitutional basis.  A small cabinet which advises the president on economic, defense, and social policy is appropriate, but the multitude of unaccountable policy making officials which usurp congress' authority is astounding.  A president was elected. CZARS were not.  Congress needs to rip up the checks which pay their salary.

Defund the EPA by 95%
the EPA has been an 800lb gorilla on the backs of jobs providers since its inception.  Its abuse of authority extends beyond what is allowable by the constitution.  By eliminating most of its funding, it becomes a documenting service without the ability to interfere with legitimate entrepreneurial efforts.

Defund the Energy Department by 95%
Our dependence on foreign oil has fed our enemies.  The energy department has not led has a single positive effort in reducing our need for foreign supplies, and is now being used by the current administration to crush the economy by encouraging the most inefficient (green) energy sourcing.  THAT sourcing by the way, which has other negative impact and requirement for foreign provided resources. It too can be a documenting service for statistical analysis.

Eliminate the Education Department completely
There is NO compelling reason to have this bureaucracy in place.  It merely conflicts with state efforts to educate our children.

Realistically examine our defensive construct globally.
We may be stretched thin, and defense will have to assume some of the burdens in cost savings.

Eliminate the NLRB completely.
The creation of the NLRB marked the beginning of a socialist movement and its mandate by government.  Collective bargaining is a right; as it is a right for people to peaceably assemble and speak as a group.  It is also the right of an owner to fire every damned one of them so he or she might properly mange THEIR PROPERTY.   The savings on the institution's cost alone would be worth it, but the underlying problems associated with federal control of a business through the NLRB would go away spurring new growth.  Further, eliminate the federally mandated minimum wage so that those who do not have skills sufficient to provide value to prospective employers will be able to develop them at lower wage levels.

Eliminate the BIA
Are the reservations STATES or SOVEREIGN NATIONS?  Its time to decide.  We fund heavily these "sovereign" nations with grants and promises to aid.

Eliminate or drastically reduce  unemployment benefits.
Eliminate the encouragement to remain unproductive, or put a shorter time period on it with additional limits on lifetime benefit (for those who seasonally collect)

Immediately recommend the elimination of the federal tax code, and put in place a 9-9-9 plan or fair-tax type of plan which assess responsibility to all citizens.
As nearly a half trillion dollars is spent merely dealing with the IRS and other tax issues, the economy would respond favorably with reduction in the 88,000 pages of the current code.

Eliminate ALL BLOCK grants.
Funding for all the little local social programs that add up to great cost to the tax payer should end.

Rid the nation of Obamacare and any mandates like it.
There is no excuse for an obviously unconstitutional punishment of the citizenry to still exist.  It is raising the cost of medical care, and reducing our ability to get it.  That cost will result in lowering of our nations wealth and ability to pay for the growth in the economy we desire.

Reduce ownership of national resources.
National park growth has eclipsed the need to retain for future generations. Selling off some these lands would generate revenue immediately, as well as provide a stronger tax base for local communities. Some states have considerable amounts of their land in federal trust.

Look at entitlements for real.
Argument can be made that seniors have paid in to the system, and should get something out of it. Bottom line is the great big ponzi known as social Security has reached its limit. As unpopular is it might be, the rollback of social security needs to be a consideration. A year by year reduction, or allowing those who have been paying in to the system to opt out at some point should be a consideration.  I am 46 years old, and would GLADLY give up any claim to social security payments if only the federal government would stop taking it from me.

Alternately, medicare accounts via choice with no government payouts to providers might be a way to control costs.  Using a formula that examines insurance costs to determine vouchers for that insurance would provide the most efficient way to cover cost of senior health care. Ridding ourselves of the medicare bureaucracy would save incredible amounts.  Further WASTE would be controlled by the private providers using the medicare vouchers.

This is a start.  JUST A START

And it is a minimum.

The ultimate solution of the debt itself needs to be addressed by growing the economy.  New taxes will not do that.  Allowing the debt to go up anymore will not do that.  Debt is temporary, yet it is treated as if it is normal.

The clock is ticking and there is no sleep button on this alarm.