WASHINGTON D.C. –Rep Phil Roe, M.D. (R-TN) issued the following statement on President Obama’s decision to cancel all self-guided White House tours:

“It’s unfortunate the president is choosing to close the doors to the White House indefinitely in response to sequestration. The American people have a right to see their democracy at work, and I believe this decision was a mistake.

“We’re all doing more with less, and unlike the White House, the House of Representatives had already cut their own office budgets by more than ten percent prior to these sequester cuts. But even with the budget cuts I’ve had to implement in our own office, cutting back on the tours of the Capitol our office provides was never under consideration.  It’s among my highest privileges to help the American people see their government in action.

“President Obama shouldn't make the American people pay for his own budgeting shortfalls, and I encourage East Tennesseans to come to Washington and visit the U.S. Capitol building.”     

Background: Congressman Roe joined several of his colleagues to sign a letter expressing his disappointment with the president’s decision. A copy of the letter can be found here. Constituents in the First District interested in touring the U.S. Capitol should visit Roe’s website and fill out the form found here.