Congressman Bob Gibb's Column - Washington Doesn't Like Me Very Much - Budget

Statement

There is no denying that a balanced budget will lead to economic growth and job creation. Americans on either side of the aisle agree that our nation's fiscal house is in dire need of these remedies, and yet, House Republicans are the only ones in Washington working toward this common-sense solution.

The Republican plan puts us on track to balance the budget, thus ending massive annual deficits that are suffocating our economy with debt. President Obama, on the other hand, has yet to provide any semblance of a plan. Without a budget or a plan, our debt will consequently continue to rise. We simply cannot afford such negligence.

The House Republican budget is a blueprint for spending reforms and fundamental tax reform that lowers taxes on families and small businesses. It removes special-interest loopholes, puts in place common sense regulatory reforms, and provides a safety net for those in need. It protects Medicare and moves us toward energy independence. Our plan grows the economy by providing certainty for private sector job creation.

Every day, Americans set and live by their own budgets. In this struggling economy, a responsible budget provides the certainty of affording groceries when you need them, gasoline for your car to get to work, the funds available to pay the monthly rent, and electricity and heating. But when the federal government doesn't set or balance its budget, its implications not only impact what is spent in Washington, but also on you as a family. It impacts interest rates, taxes increase and benefits tend to decrease. The lack of a presenting and providing a balanced budget directly impacts the cost of everything that you and your family have budgeted to afford.

A responsible budget prevents situations like sequestration by providing certainty and justification in a planning process. The GOP Budget provides for responsible and targeted cuts to cure our nations spending problems and provide for a brighter future for American families.

We cannot continue to burden our children and grandchildren with the consequences of Washington's reckless spending. We need to produce a balanced budget and face the fact that spending is our obvious problem. Chairman Ryan's plan addresses all of these critical issues, and that is why I voted to support it this week. I hope my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will join us in this effort to rescue our flailing economy.

Source