Issue Position: Fiscal Responsibility

Issue Position

Over the past several years, American families have had to tighten their belt and learn to do more with less-- it's high time Washington does the same. Currently, your share of the public's debt exceeds $46,000. The same share goes for every man, woman and child in the United States -- and it continues to rise by the day.

The tax-and-spend agenda set by President Obama clearly is not working. Unemployment rates are through the roof and the irresponsible spending habits of prior Congresses and Administrations racked up $14 trillion in out-of-control spending. The culture of Washington must be changed from the ground up. Over the last several months, my freshman classmates and I have been fighting to shake things up in Washington and change the conversation from how much to spend to how much to cut.

We must have strong, fiscally conservative voices in Washington who will vote against the status quo. While voting to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010 and blocking threats of a national energy tax and second stimulus are a start, Americans also need independent voices who will vote against bailing out Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac and the bank bailout (known as TARP).

We must tackle our debt head on and eliminate unnecessary spending. Federal spending continues to grow by the trillions despite a debt burden that has reached levels previously thought impossible, undermining the dollar and our place in the global market. At present, nearly 40 cents of every dollar the government spends, is borrowed. The result is more economic uncertainty that the nation cannot afford. New spending must be limited to critical national security and infrastructure needs.

Last November, I was sent to Washington to cut spending and shrink the size of government to make it more efficient and effective. Now is the time to do what you sent us here to do -- not to take the easy way out. We must continue to make the bold but necessary budget cuts that will refuel our economy and leave future generations with the same opportunities many of us have been blessed with.

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