Thompson Calls Attention To National Debt by Placing Debt Clock In Front of D.C. Office

Congressman Mike Thompson (D-Napa Valley) today placed a debt clock in front of his Capitol office in an effort to call attention to our nation's mounting national debt. The clock, which will be updated daily, currently reads $7.671 trillion in national debt, which equals a $27,000 share for each American.

“Congress has the responsibility to reign in our out-of-control debt,” Thompson said. “These debt clocks will remind members of Congress and visitors that we must act to restore fiscal responsibility to our government. It will be harder for members of Congress to ignore our growing debt when they are faced with it each day.”

By next week more than two-dozen members of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of fiscally responsible Democrats, will be displaying debt clocks outside of their offices.

Earlier this year, Thompson joined the Blue Dogs in releasing the following 12-Step Budget Reform Plan to get America's fiscal house in order:

1) Require a balanced Budget

2) Don't let Congress buy on credit - Restore PAYGO

3) Put a lid on spending

4) Require federal agencies to put their fiscal houses in order

5) Make Congress tell taxpayers how much they're spending

6) Set aside a rainy-day fund

7) Don't hide votes to raise the debt limit

8) Justify spending for pet projects

9) Ensure that Congress reads the bills it's voting on

10) Require honest cost estimates for every bill that Congress votes on

11) Make sure new bills fit the budget

12) Make Congress do a better job keeping tabs on government programs

“Members of Congress and the White House need to start behaving like American families, we need to pay for what we pass,” Thompson added. “These common sense budget reforms would bring fiscal responsibility back to the federal government. The growing debt clock outside my office will highlight the urgent need for reform.”