The Shadow
The Congress continues to face serious budgetary challenges and it is time we take control of spending instead of letting it control the Congress.
In recent years, federal spending has increased at an unsustainable pace, allowing our national debt to spiral out of control.
Trillons have been spent on bailouts and stimulus packages to help grow our economy, but all it has done is increase our debt and the size of the federal bureaucracy while leaving our nation’s unemployment rate hovering around nine percent.
Federal spending must be brought under control, in order to create American jobs and grow our economy.
This week, with my support, the House of Representatives took an important step to reining in the out of control government spending by passing a long term federal budget plan that makes serious reforms and is a great start to solving our fiscal crisis.
The budget resolution, which was introduced by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, cuts $6.2 trillion in government spending over the next ten years compared to the President’s budget and reduces deficits by $4.4 trillion.
The “Ryan budget” eliminates hundreds of duplicative programs, contains no earmarks and curbs corporate welfare bringing non-security discretionary spending to below 2008 levels.
Additionally, the budget keeps taxes low so our economy can grow and calls for a simpler, less burdensome tax code for families and small businesses.
The House-passed budget repeals and defunds the government takeover of our health care system, including the nearly $800 billion in tax increases imposed by that new law.
Finally, the “Ryan budget” saves and strengthens entitlement programs, such as Medicare and Social Security, for future generations, while not changing benefits for those 55 and older.
While the “Ryan budget” is a significant step in the right direction, I believe we need to be even more ambitious in controlling spending.
That is why I also supported an amendment that builds upon the good work of the House Budget Committee, making additional spending cuts to put the government on track to turn trillion-dollar deficits into a budget surplus within ten years.
Congress must steadfastly hold the line on government spending which is why I have consistently voted for the tightest budgets offered each year.
Washington has overspent for decades. Fixing the problem will require immediate action and years of commitment. As elected officials and stewards of the taxpayer’s money, we have a responsibility to put together a sustainable budget and stick to it.
The passage of the “Ryan budget” is a great start but the Congress must continue to work to rein in spending and put to practice a spending approach that many Americans already live by: if you don’t have it, don’t spend it.
