The biggest threat to our country is the out-of-control federal government spending that’s occurring in Washington, D.C. I’m the only member of Montana’s congressional delegation to have voted against the failed so-called Stimulus bill, against President Obama's costly health care overhaul, and against the bailouts.
Right now, the amount of debt the United States has accumulated could not be paid back even if we took every dollar from each person, bank and business. Washington is broke. We can no longer sit idly on the sideline and bury our heads in the sand. It’s time to make tough decisions with our national budget.
Our federal government has a problem with spending too much, not taxing too little. Over the last several years we have seen the size and scope of our federal government grow at historic rates. We continue to borrow more money from foreign countries like China while we watch our revenues dry up thanks to a sluggish economy.
If we truly want to ensure that we do not destroy the American dream, we need to put our fiscal house in order, and we must do it now.
This is not my first time having to make tough decisions to balance a budget. During my time in the Montana legislature we faced a budget shortfall. By buckling down and working hard, we were able to balance the state budget without raising taxes. Something that I know can be done in Washington DC.
When I was first elected to the United States House of Representatives one of the first initiatives I pushed for was a Balanced Budget Amendment. Families all across America have to live within their means, and the federal government should be held to the same standard.
As your Senator I will not be afraid to make the tough decisions. There is too much waste in government. We need to examine all federal agencies, departments and programs and root out waste, fraud and abuse. According to the Department of Treasury 2003 Financial Report of the United States Government, $ 24.5 Billion dollars was spent and not accounted for. It is this type of waste we need to address.
There are three major steps we can take to rein in spending. First, we need to end federal earmarks, which I have voted to do. Second, we must pass a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and I’m sponsoring legislation to do just that. Finally, we need take all left over money from the failed so-called stimulus and all the various government bailouts, and put that money toward paying down the national debt.
Recently, I was appointed Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, which oversees over one quarter of federal discretionary spending. Montanans can count on me to bring much needed fiscal accountability to Washington DC as chair of this committee.