During my two years in the United States Congress I have said time and time again that our nation’s debt crisis is the greatest challenge we face. As the father of two young children, it is important to me that leaders in Washington try to preserve the American dream for future generations. Ending deficit spending, paying down our $17 trillion national debt and strengthening our weak economy should be top priorities.
This week the House of Representatives voted on a budget resolution that will serve as a blueprint for federal spending. While I applaud efforts made by members of my own party to balance the federal budget, I could not support a non-binding budget resolution that will inevitably be changed by future Congresses. When I told voters in my district that I will stand firm for permanent spending controls, I was serious. I voted against the House non-binding budget resolution to bring attention to Congress’s continued reliance on policies that have clearly failed and to call on my colleagues to focus instead on passing permanent spending controls.
In the 1990s, Republicans made a serious effort to reduce federal spending. The effort was a huge media success that culminated in President Bill Clinton proclaiming the ‘era of big government is over.’ But with no permanent spending controls, things returned to normal rather quickly. In addition to normal deficit spending, Republicans and Democrats added over $30 trillion in new unfunded entitlement spending.
During each of the past three decades, Congress has made numerous attempts to control spending with non-binding budget resolutions and deficit control acts yet our debt has skyrocketed. It is time to wake up to the harsh reality that another non-binding budget resolution is doomed to the same failed result that previous resolutions yielded – a short-term sugar high from temporary deficit reduction followed by rapidly growing debt and entitlement spending. It is time for Congress to get serious about the debt crisis and economic growth by passing permanent spending controls that will put America on a genuine path to prosperity.
It doesn’t matter how many non-binding budget resolutions we pass or even budget control acts, Congress has proven completely incapable of making responsible decisions. I am convinced permanent spending controls are our only hope to get this thing back on track. I will continue pushing for permanent spending controls so that your children and mine will have the opportunity to live the American Dream.
During my two years in the United States Congress I have said time and time again that our nation’s debt crisis is the greatest challenge we face. As the father of two young children, it is important to me that leaders in Washington try to preserve the American dream for future generations. Ending deficit spending, paying down our $17 trillion national debt and strengthening our weak economy should be top priorities.