Issue Position: Budget

Issue Position

The federal government is on track to run a deficit of over a trillion dollars for the fifth consecutive year, all the while piling more and more debt on future generations. We simply cannot continue on the current path.

In 2010, the people of the Third District sent me to Washington to lead on this issue, and during my time in office, the House Republicans have offered solutions to address our out-of-control spending. The House passed budgets in 2011 and 2012 that addressed the main drivers of our debt and deficit -- Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security -- and put our budget on a path to achieve balance. Medicare and Social Security are important programs. The federal government made a commitment to the people that these programs would be there for them when they need it most, and I believe we have an obligation to live up to that promise. The good news is, we can. If we act now and make the necessary reforms, we can put these programs on solid footing without harming those beneficiaries in or near retirement.

The problem is simple -- it's math. And it cannot be solved unless we address entitlement programs. In fact, we could eliminate all discretionary spending and still not balance our budget. I am committed to getting our country's fiscal house in order, and I recognize it will be a tough task. But what other choice do we have?

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