Let's Talk Budgets

Statement

Let's Talk Budgets

Folks in East Alabama are hurting. Jobs are lost, hours are cut and many no longer have health insurance coverage.

These tough times have forced us to recalculate our family budgets. We're tightening our belts, going without certain things and thinking carefully about where and how we spend our money.
It's fitting our nation's budget has moved to the top of the agenda.

You may have seen President Obama released his budget proposal, a $3.6 trillion blueprint that offers his outline of where and how our tax dollars could be spent.

Unlike our family budgets, which don't usually have much room for debate, our Federal budget does.

And while I have some strong disagreements with the President's budget, I applaud his willingness to think big when it comes to major challenges facing our nation.

For example, on the energy front, President Obama rightly proposes to make energy independence a priority. He does this in part by providing significant funding to the research and development of renewable fuel technologies. You've probably heard me say our nation must become energy independent by using home-grown, renewable energy technologies which can be found right here in Alabama.

But the devil is in the details. I‘m concerned the President's energy proposal, while forward-thinking, is centered around the issue of climate change. The budget proposes to raise as much as $646 billion in new revenues through a climate change proposal known as cap-and-trade.

Cap-and-trade is a type of energy tax that could be applied to practically every American family and manufacturer. With Alabama heavily dependent on manufacturing for thousands of good paying jobs, I am deeply concerned implementation of this new system could be harmful to our interests.

On the issue of healthcare, we all agree Alabama families deserve the best possible health care coverage at an affordable cost.

This budget sets aside over $600 billion for expanding healthcare coverage over the next ten years, paid for in part by cutting Medicare Advantage subsidies and higher taxes on many families. This is a far-reaching proposal and one I question, especially the need to raise taxes. During this debate, I hope Congress does not push for a one-size-fits-all, single-payer, government-run HMO.

On the issue of taxes, I have serious concerns about the budget proposal.

The budget proposes raising taxes by $1.4 trillion over ten years. While I agree Congress needs to reform our tax code and reduce our deficit, in general I oppose raising income taxes and most especially when our economy is in recession.

As a member of the Agriculture Committee, I'm also concerned about proposed changes to our agriculture safety net.

Congress will hold hearings on the President's budget this Spring. I plan to monitor the process closely and appreciate, as always, any feedback you have on it.

Two clarifications from my last column: On the issue of stimulus bill funding, it should have read $2 billion for "organizations like" the controversial group ACORN, not "$2 billion for…ACORN." It should've also included the words "vehicles like" in referring to funding for green golf carts.

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