Issue Position: Economic and Fiscal Policy

Issue Position

I believe that sound fiscal policy and sustained economic growth go hand-in-hand, and that it takes a combination of private and public sector initiatives to move our economy forward. Small business is the engine that drives our economy but for the economic ride to be smooth, the federal government must do its part by helping to create the infrastructure--physical and electronic--to carry our commerce and create our jobs. That's why I've fought so hard to make the research and development tax credit permanent, and why I believe that a broader and more comprehensive approach to economic development is necessary.

Regarding the federal budget, I believe that the federal government should, to the maximum extent possible, live within its means. That is why I voted against all Republican tax cut giveaways to the wealthiest Americans, which have added $1.3 trillion to national debt in less than two years--more than in first 205 years of U.S. history--and require $800 billion on borrowing during the next decade. Unfortunately, President Bush's proposed FY2006 budget offers more of the same fiscally reckless policies. I favor reinstatement of "pay-as-you-go" rules, which requires that new increases in spending or tax cuts be deficit neutral. I'll continue to work for fiscal policies that are fair for all Americans.

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