Only in Washington can a financial plan that never balances at any point in the projected future be called a budget. And only under President Obama could it happen eight years in a row.
The current administration's budget proposals have been so out of touch with the interests of the American people that they have been voted down by overwhelming margins in recent years; in 2014 the House defeated the Obama budget by a vote of 413 -- 2, while in 2015, the Senate rejected the proposal on a 98 -- 1 vote.
Thankfully, the budget proposal released by the White House earlier this month is the last one we'll have to consider from the Obama Administration. It is not a serious effort to get our country's fiscal house in order, nor is it a serious effort to get our economy back on track. The latest Obama budget would increase spending by $2.5 trillion, hike taxes by more than $3.4 trillion, explode the deficit, ensure that the national debt would be twice as great as it was when President Obama took office, raise gas prices, double down on the president's failed health-care law, and -- like its predecessors -- never, ever balance. Under this plan, by the year 2022 we would have to spend more money to service our national debt than to protect our national security!
I'm thankful that my Republican colleagues who serve on the House Budget Committee are serious about reducing the deficit, balancing the budget, and paying off our national debt. The House will, wisely, once again reject the president's proposal and craft its own plan that tackles the serious issues that we face with the serious ideas that the American people deserve. Please know as this year's budget is crafted, I will keep you updated with all of the latest information to ensure that you are aware of what is happening in Washington.
The House isn't the only branch of government dealing losses to the Obama Administration. You may remember a bulletin from last year in which I discussed the administration's Clean Power Plan announcement. In short, the heavy handed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the finalized rule to regulate power plant emissions, mandating that power plants would have to cut an average of 32 percent of their carbon dioxide emissions by 2030. This would devastate the citizens of our great state as more than 85 percent of Missouri's electricity is generated by burning coal.
On February 9th, the Supreme Court halted the administration's effort to place more regulations on the coal industry in a victory for the American people. This ruling was a critical check against the executive branch's out of control rules and regulations. While I am pleased this rule has been temporarily blocked, it needs to be struck down permanently so that consumers across the country do not have to shoulder the cost of higher energy prices.
The late, great Justice Antonin Scalia was one of the five justices that voted to halt the Obama climate plan, and his thoughtfulness and wisdom will be sorely missed on this issue as well as countless others that will come before the Supreme Court in the future. Please join me in keeping Justice Scalia's family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
As the year unfolds, I will remain steadfast in finding solutions that restore a confident America -- where everyone feels secure in their lives and in their futures.