An Open Letter to Rep. Larson From the Man He Defeated in 2012

John Henry Decker, U.S. Rep. John Larson’s Republican opponent in 2012, has some advice for the man who defeated him.

In an open letter to the powerful House Democrat, Decker makes a plea for bipartisanship as Congress navigates the fiscal cliff crisis.

“You and others in Congress and the White House must ‘rise above’ and focus on the task of forging a bipartisan, fiscally responsible compromise that both avoids the immediate ‘fiscal cliff’ impact, and puts our nation on a path toward long-term economic growth and deficit reduction,” Decker wrote.

“As a successful Representative, leader and former Chairman of the Democratic Caucus, you are in the unique position to step forward and lead your party towards a solution to replace the fiscal cliff with a balanced and workable plan that must be bipartisan.”

The full letter, which Decker posted on his Facebook page, can be read after the jump.

November 30, 2012
Representative John B. Larson
U.S. House of Representatives
1501 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-001

Dear Rep. Larson,

As your opponent during the last election cycle, we had an opportunity to discuss the fiscal cliff. It was also a central concern of mine during our campaign. I am certain you are aware that I am a Financial Advisor and a Certified Financial Planner® that works in your District. You also probably know that I work with many families and business owners to achieve their hopes and aspirations through effective management of their financial affairs. Among my clients, few concerns are greater right now than the impact of the impending ”fiscal cliff” on the U.S. economy and their financial well-being. For this reason, I call on you to work together with your fellow Republican and Democratic colleagues to find a balanced solution to this serious economic challenge. You and others in Congress and the White House must “rise above” and focus on the task of forging a bipartisan, fiscally responsible compromise that both avoids the immediate ”fiscal cliff” impact, and puts our nation on a path toward long-term economic growth and deficit reduction.

We, your constituents, cannot afford to see our nation go “over the cliff” and face the terrible economic consequences that would result: a severe, negative impact on every taxpayer, a shock to our financial markets, and return to a painful recession. Failure by Congress to act quickly and responsibly will add trillions of dollars to our rising federal debt and stunt the future strength and prosperity of our economy. As I stated during the campaign, delaying or deferring the tough decisions that need to be made will just further erode our faith in our government.

During our campaign you promised to be bipartisan, and given that neither political party can do this alone, here is a perfect opportunity to keep that commitment. As a successful Representative, leader and former Chairman of the Democratic Caucus, you are in the unique position to step forward and lead your party towards a solution to replace the fiscal cliff with a balanced and workable plan that must be bipartisan.

With our election behind us, I ask that in the coming days you act to end the threat of the impending fiscal cliff, find compromise with your colleagues, and work toward a balanced plan that puts our nation’s budget on a strong and sustainable path.

Thank you very much for your immediate attention to this impending serious economic crisis — an urgent situation that our country’s leaders cannot afford to ignore.

Sincerely,

John Henry Decker