Ruppersberger Wants to Protect Donations to National Debt Reduction
The Baltimore County congressman announced Tuesday plans to introduce legislation—largely symbolic—to promote trust in government officials.
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Rep. C.A. "Dutch" Ruppersberger hopes to re-instill confidence in elected officials with a “symbolic” bill that will protect citizen donations to national debt reduction.
The congressman from Baltimore County made the announcement Tuesday afternoon from his office in Timonium. (See videos.)
“Recently, I learned that these donations were not going specifically to reduce the national debt,” Ruppersberger said. “[The donations] were going into the General Fund, which is basically our checkbook.”
President John F. Kennedy signed the law allowing for donations to help reduce the national debt in 1963. Since then, Americans have donated $81.7 million to the fund to retire the national debt.
“We’ve got trillions of dollars to deal with,” Ruppersberger said of the national debt. “[My bill is] more symbolic because it’s not the type of money that we need to reduce the deficit, but it will also hopefully bring trust back in government.”
Ruppersberger’s bill will require the U.S. Treasury to deposit donations into a separate bank account, set aside specifically for reducing the national debt.
Roughly 20 to 30 donations, typically under $500, are collected each month, according to a release.
The congressman said he would introduce the new legislation Wednesday.
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Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger's Office
375 W Padonia Rd, Lutherville Timonium, MD
John
8:37 pm on Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Day late and a dollar short. Sorry!
GHCinNottingham
10:08 pm on Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Why am I not impressed? He should introduce a bill to do the same for social security contributions. Then SS might become solvent again.
Larry
7:10 am on Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Instead of symbolic gestures we would be better served by our elected officials if they would live up to their oaths and see to it that our immigration laws are enforced. That will drive down our nations debt.
Scott Sewell
8:15 am on Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Hey Dutch, if you're truly serious about reducing the debt, then why do you vote for budget busting bills like Obama Care? It's time to rein in big government and start cutting!
JH
10:42 am on Wednesday, September 7, 2011
It is a move in the right direction, but he needs to do a lot more. Major reductions are needed now and this would include the various welfare programs like Medicaid where there is so much waste and fraud. Also, collect income taxes from all the freeloaders and tax cheats before asking honest law abiding ciitzens to pay more.
Buzz Beeler
5:18 pm on Wednesday, September 7, 2011
I'm not quite sure at this point I would trust anyone in a position of authority in our government. We have the ATF scandal and now this recent boondoggle. Not exactly a place you would want to hang your hat on.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/08/31/panel-widespread-waste-and-fraud-in-war-spending/?test=latestnews
Donald M. Ford
5:33 pm on Wednesday, September 7, 2011
He should introduce a bill to do the same for social security , so they would STOP robbing it.
Robert Armstrong
5:37 pm on Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Rick Perry want's to do away with Social Security altogether. I guess Grandma is going to be SOL.
Buzz Beeler
6:04 pm on Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Mr. Ford we are being robbed every day. With a persistent unemployment at 9/1% and a president pandering for votes this is the result.
Whiting and Turner are building the new Dundalk/Sollers Point HS.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7otZ-eJfKiI