Issue Position: Balanced Budget

Issue Position

Our nation's accelerating debt is now over $18 trillion, up from $10.6 trillion when President Obama first took office. As long as the federal government continues to spend far beyond its means, our nation's economy will continue to suffer. There is absolutely no excuse for continuing to add to our nation's debt that will only fall on the backs of future generations -- our children and grandchildren.

I have long believed that one of the few shortfalls of our Constitution was the omission of a requirement for the federal government to balance the budget annually. That is why I have introduced legislation in every Congress since joining the Senate that seeks to amend the U.S. Constitution to require a balanced federal budget. On February 9, 2015, I once again introduced my balanced budget amendment, S.J.Res. 9. This legislation has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, where it awaits further legislative

The adoption of a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitutional would require the federal government to do what every American already has to do -- balance its checkbook. I believe that the addition of a Balanced Budget Amendment is the tool that the American people deserve to guarantee greater fiscal responsibility from Washington in the future, and to ensure that the government spends Americans' hard-earned tax dollars responsibly. Requiring Washington to balance its budget is a common sense policy that would reduce wasteful spending, restore confidence in our economy, and foster job growth.

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