This week Americans heard two very different visions for our country with President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address and the GOP response from Florida Senator Marco Rubio. President Obama believes more government is the solution to every problem facing our country. When I talk to folks back home in Arkansas, they tell me big government is the problem. My constituents are burdened with excessive regulations and they are concerned about our country’s massive national debt.

For too long Republicans and Democrats have kicked the can down the road instead of addressing the great uncertainty created by our national debt. If we truly want to grow our economy and create good paying jobs, we must enact permanent spending controls that will force Congress to live within our financial means and restore certainty to our fragile economy. Statutory efforts to control spending could be changed over time. Permanent spending controls would be an unbending addition to the Constitution that could not be ignored or altered.

Like many of you, I was thrilled to hear Senator Rubio call on Congress to pass a Balanced Budget Amendment in his response to the President’s State of the Union. Since my election to Congress I have called on my Republican and Democrat colleagues to get serious about of national debt. Last summer a Balanced Budget Amendment nearly passed the House of Representatives. Since that time our debt has continued to grow.

In Arkansas, common sense tells us we cannot spend money that we do not have. Unfortunately, common sense is not so common in Washington these days. During my time in Congress I have become convinced that temporary laws are not the solution to our nation’s long-term economic health. If we want to ensure America’s place as the World’s only remaining super power, we must take decisive action to end deficit spending.

This week Americans heard two very different visions for our country with President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address and the GOP response from Florida Senator Marco Rubio. President Obama believes more government is the solution to every problem facing our country. When I talk to folks back home in Arkansas, they tell me big government is the problem. My constituents are burdened with excessive regulations and they are concerned about our country’s massive national debt.