WASHINGTON — As Congress gets ready to take a six-week district work period, instead of staying at work to come up with common sense solutions to our growing economic problems, the summer temperatures are on the rise just like Congress’ seemingly never-ending spending spree.

As folks across this country struggle monthly to pay bills, make ends meet and cut excessive spending out of their budgetary diets, Congress does exactly the opposite.

As many of you across East Alabama may have heard recently, the Obama Administration estimates the 2010 deficit will be $1.47 trillion – an all-time high following last year’s $1.4 trillion.

Our national debt now sits at $13.2 trillion, which equals out to over $119,000 per taxpayer. While there certainly have been deficits in recent years, they’ve been nothing like this. It can’t continue.

Yet when it comes to spending and taxes, it looks like things just might get worse if the Democratic leadership in Congress has its way.

In these tough economic times, it sounds like the Democratic Leadership may let some or all of the Bush tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 expire.  Which in plain English means raising taxes.

Their rationale is the deficit. According to Speaker Pelosi, if Congress just lets these tax cuts expire, more money will help close the budget deficit.

That assumes the Democratic controlled Congress wouldn’t simply spend the money, which I believe they couldn’t resist doing. Part of the problem is no one trusts Congress to make the tough choices about spending cuts. East Alabamians want to see proof.

And we’re not just talking about increasing taxes on the rich, like some claim. We’re talking about increasing taxes on middle class families if the child tax credit is cut in half, higher taxes on couples through the marriage penalty, and higher taxes on moderate income families currently in the 10% tax bracket.

Simply increasing these taxes will hurt families in this economy. Small business owners will also be hit hard with more taxes to pay, which will discourage investing, which will in turn further stall our economy and lessen job creation.

The tax increases would come on top of other recent tax increases, like those in the healthcare overhaul. And further tax increases in the form of Cap and Trade remain stubbornly on the table, all while unemployment is still so high.

With unemployment at 10 percent – there’s no denying that jobs should be the number one priority for Congress.

As Congress takes this six-week break to spend time in their respective districts, I hope folks let their representatives know that they demand better.

As always, feel free to contact me on this or any issues at www.house.gov/mike-rogers, friend me on Facebook/RepMikeRogersAL, watch me on YouTube/MikeRogersAL03and follow me on Twitter/RepMikeRogersAL.