Crapo: "Big Thing" Should Lead To Smaller Federal Government

Statement

Obama's agenda must contain deficit, debt reduction

Following President Obama's State of the Union address this evening, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo released this statement:

"There is no question that the most critical priority for our country is to get our fiscal house in order. The crisis that grips our nation is strangling the economy and is working against job creation and economic recovery. Deficit and debt control is not only important to maintaining economic stability, but will also protect our children, grandchildren and generations to come. This stark reality requires that we in Congress make hard choices to right-size the federal government and lower the barriers to job creation. It is impossible to responsibly correct our fiscal problems without serious spending cuts, controls on the growth of mandatory spending programs and comprehensive tax reform. While I was heartened that the President touched on the need to revamp our tax code, that effort must not just be an excuse to shift the tax burden around and allow the government to pick winners and losers. Fundamental tax reform that truly streamlines the tax code, broadens the tax base, lowers all tax rates and makes our tax code more competitive will not only provide the revenue necessary to meet essential government functions, but it will also grow our economy and leave more money in the pockets of American families and businesses.

"The President addressed broad themes of global competitiveness and innovations, and he is right when he recognizes that Americans have led the way in so many technological advances. I also appreciated his focus on renewable energy, including nuclear--these are efforts I have long endorsed. We need to get our trade agenda back on track in a manner that is fair and free, and his remarks regarding our pending trade agreements struck a chord. There is much work to be done--in education, in retirement security, in infrastructure support. But these investments must be done in a manner that doesn't push up spending; we cannot spend our way into prosperity. The bipartisan seating arrangement tonight serves only as a symbol; the real demonstration comes when we work together to resolve our country's challenges in a manner that recognizes fundamental and commonsense solutions.

"So, as I listened tonight to the President outline his vision and agenda, I weighed his words with these priorities. As he ended his speech asking us to "do big things', I was brought back again to the absolute need we face of balancing our budget and reducing our federal deficit--that's the "big thing' that needs our attention now."

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