Budget

Budget

Much has changed in the United States of America since the start of the year 2001, and that certainly includes the Federal government's budget. At that time, the Federal government's budget had been balanced for several years running - thanks in large part to the Republican majorities in House and Senate beginning in the 104th Congress - and was looking at significant surpluses well into the future.

Events that followed, including an economic slow-down and the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, contributed to a lower level of revenues than anticipated. At the same time, President Bush needed - and received from the Congress - more new funding to protect our Homeland. These unexpected developments contributed to alter the Federal government's current budget significantly, and future budgets as well.

The events of September 11th forced us to realize our nation's vulnerability to terrorist attacks and have thus changed the focus of our spending priorities for the future. The United States government is now obligated to provide necessary increases in funding for domestic security and national defense. America must now, more than ever, tighten her belt and spend money on programs that are essential to the protection and security of all Americans.

This is my commitment to America - I will fight to increase freedom for Americans and to strengthen families, not government. The key to our success in balancing the budget was limiting spending growth and minimizing the creation of new entitlement programs. We learned in dramatic fashion the real difference that a philosophy of less government, lower taxes, and more freedom can make when we put that plan into action, and I will continue to support fiscally-responsible policies in the future as well.