Issue Position: Fiscal Responsibility

Issue Position

I am working hard to stop out-of-control spending and borrowing in Washington.

This includes votes against the president's $1 trillion stimulus bill, against the 9,000-earmark omnibus spending bill, against last spring's $350 billion TARP, and against raising the debt ceiling to a record $14.29 trillion.

And I recently became an original sponsor of a constitutional amendment to limit federal spending. This proposal mirrors the Lance Amendment to the New Jersey State Constitution that prohibits further state borrowing without voter approval.

Late last year I put forth a multi-pronged approach aimed at putting our country back on the path of fiscal discipline.

* I am the lead sponsor of the "Pay It Back Act" to apply unspent funds from the federal stimulus and the TARP program directly toward debt reduction and not for new federal spending.

* I am the lead sponsor of the "Deficit Reduction Act" to apply fiscally responsible caps on annual congressional spending and debt.

* I am a sponsor of legislation to require a stand-alone up-or-down vote on raising the debt ceiling. And I oppose raising the debt ceiling without first cutting wasteful spending and cracking down on spending fraud and abuse.

* I am the lead sponsor of a congressional resolution calling for a national debate on debt, deficits and spending.

Out-of-control spending and record national debt and deficits should be of grave concern to each and every American. We owe it to future generations to get our fiscal house in order now.

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