Issue Position: Budget

Issue Position

I decided to run for Congress to ensure that my grandchildren will have the opportunity to live the American dream. I want to help instill fiscal sanity back into Washington by putting a stop to the spending sprees that have launched our country into overwhelming debt.

The national debt is now climbing its way to $17 trillion. This record-breaking debt has exacerbated our country's challenges and provided fuel to the already contentious discourse between both parties. Instead of finding solutions to this very serious problem, Congress has disappointingly allowed partisan antics get in the way.

The ballooning debt poses a very real threat to future generations, and I have made a concerted effort to work with members from both parties on efforts to rein in spending and get our nation's fiscal house in order. Congress cannot let future generations inherit a country in which the American dream is a thing of the past.

As a member of the House Budget Committee, I am proud to have worked on numerous proposals to reduce federal spending. Recently I voted to support the FY 2014 Budget Resolution, which takes steps to scale back government spending and put the country on the path to prosperity. The plan eliminates duplicative government programs, ends corporate welfare, provides a starting point to fix the broken tax code and fosters economic certainty so businesses can create jobs and put our economy back on track. This budget not only lays down a framework that encourages economic growth, but also balances within the decade.

I also introduced a bipartisan bill to implement a biennial budgeting system for the federal government. Similar to the Wisconsin system, a biennial budget would require Congress to pass and adopt a budget in the first year and use the second year to conduce oversight and review of all federal spending programs. Wisconsin, along with 19 other states, has already successfully implemented a biennial budgeting system, so there is no reason why the federal government can't do the same. I'm pleased that this bill has bipartisan support and am confident it could help bring an end to the "budgeting by crisis' process that has gripped Congress recently.

I am also pleased to report that earlier this year a version of my No Budget, No Pay legislation was signed into law. The idea behind this bill is to hold members of Congress accountable by withholding their paychecks if a budget wasn't passed before April 15th. While this small victory is a step in the right direction, I am going to continue to work on getting the full version of the legislation signed into law so it's applicable to all future Congresses. It's a common sense reform that brings main street ideas to the halls of Congress.

As I think of future generations, I cannot sit idly by while our country heads toward a crisis that would devastate their future. That is why I supported the House passed budget; I believe it's a first step toward a brighter tomorrow. The problems our nation is facing have been ignored or glossed over for too many years. There are still many potential solutions that could help solve our country's budgetary problems and it's important that they get heard. There is still a lot of work to be done, but I have faith that we can turn our country around and once again ensure that the American dream is attainable for all.

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