Issue Position: Fiscal Discipline

Issue Position

Spending in Washington is out of control. Career politicians think they can spend without consequence. Congress should start acting more like the millions of Americans who face difficult financial decisions every day. When credit and money are tight, tough choices and trade-offs are made around the kitchen table at home. It is time for Congress to make similar choices instead of just extending their credit line whenever they feel like it. The fact is that in 2012 the federal government had a daily income of about $6.7 billion -- and daily expenditures in excess of $9.6 billion. It doesn't take a PhD in economics to understand that we are spending more on government than we can afford. We owe ourselves a better, more responsible government than this. We owe our kids and our grand-kids a more responsible budgeting process. I would support an amendment to the Constitution requiring Congress to maintain a balanced budget except for emergency circumstances such as war. Endless deficits and mounting federal debt are threatening the American Dream.

The fiscal mess the United States faces right now is a result of failing to cut spending, and worse, perennial budget deficits. It's irresponsible to pile debt on our children and grandchildren, who will one day be forced to pay for our recklessness. Fiscal discipline -- true fiscal discipline -- means not only cutting taxes but also reducing spending. I'll demand a real budget debate and insist on solutions to eliminate the need for yet another vote to raise the debt ceiling.

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