Issue Position: Fiscal Responsibility

Issue Position

Issue Position: Fiscal Responsibility

Fiscal Responsibility
Every South Dakota family must live within a budget; I don't understand why the federal government cannot do the same. Our tax dollars should be spent wisely on matters that are important to South Dakota and reflect our values, and Congress should act on budgetary reforms that will effectively enforce fiscal discipline. For that reason, I support a constitutional amendment that would require the federal government to balance its budget each and every year. South Dakota families have to live within their budget, as does the State of South Dakota; it is time Washington did the same.

On June 4, 2008, I voted against the budget proposal put together by the Democrat Majority in the Senate. This proposal called for a tax increase of at least $1.2 trillion over the next five years, which would be the largest tax increase in American history. I simply could not support a budget proposal that increases taxes by historical proportions, does nothing about the long term solvency of entitlement programs, and still manages to increase deficit spending in the short term. I don't think it is too much to ask Washington to live within its means and that is why I could not support this budget proposal.

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