Issue Position: Spending

Issue Position

Spending

"We ended frivolous and wasteful spending in Wisconsin and we can do the same in Washington if we employ the courage and determination necessary to get the job done." -- Jeff Fitzgerald

Government shouldn't spend more than it takes in. Here in Wisconsin that is just common sense, but as we know, there isn't too much of that going around in Washington.

The federal government has not had a budget for over 1,000 days. Meanwhile, our national debt has reached $15 trillion, and its rising by the second. During President Obama's first term alone, our debt has increased more than it did during the combined presidencies of George Washington through George H.W. Bush.

While the debt clock keeps ticking, our time to address these problems is running out. Solving our debt crisis will not be easy. It will take political courage and unwavering determination -- not just saying no to new spending.

In the past, I've found it easy to say no. When Liberal Democrats controlled all branches of Wisconsin's government they introduced a budget that increased spending by 10%, raised taxes and fees by nearly $5 billion, and moved Wisconsin in the wrong direction. It was very easy for me to vote no. Likewise, it has been easy for me to oppose President Obama's failed stimulus, his Wall Street bailouts, and his "boondoggle" investments like Solyndra and his so-called "high speed" rail projects.

Real leadership is proactive, not reactive.

Once Governor Walker took office and Republicans took control of the state Assembly and Senate, we couldn't just say no. WE HAD TO LEAD. The solutions Governor Walker and I crafted to solve Wisconsin's spending problems were met with an immediate revolt from the status quo. Tens of thousands of protestors occupied our capitol, 14 Democrat Senators fled the state to block a vote, and the special interests who feed at the government trough tried to undue fair and square elections with a flurry of recall campaigns.

In the face of unyielding opposition and adversity, we passed spending reforms that brought forth meaningful bureaucratic, budgetary and political changes to Wisconsin that will last for generations. The U.S. government must take action like we have in Wisconsin. Sacred cows must be challenged. Third rails must be crossed. Obamacare must be repealed and entitlements must be dramatically reduced.

These changes will be controversial and politically challenging, but I believe that the successes we had in Wisconsin in 2011 have left me battletested and ready to take the fight against spending to our nation's capitol.

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