Deficit Spending and National Debt

I am a fiscal conservative. I was raised to know that when I didn't have enough money for expenses I needed to reduce future expenses or find ways to increase my income. I often decided it was best to do some of both. The size of the national debt the legislative and executive branches have allowed is embarrassing. It is a clear and present danger to the prosperity of America's future. Congress must discipline itself to spend taxpayer money much more frugally than it has. Legislation must be fiscally grounded by using the same financial decision making processes that successful families, businesses, and non-profits use. In short, we have to get serious about developing budgets that balance income and expenses!

Neither individual nor corporate welfare can be acceptable unless it can be proven to create a positive return on investment and it should never be provided for more than a few years. All governmental departments and agencies need to be funded through a zero based budget process where budget requests aren't simply adding on to a previously approved budget. The huge debt owed by the United States government has especially increased over the last decade. The amount of debt unfortunately means we must reduce spending in virtually all aspects of government, spend these smaller budgets more wisely, and evaluate all programs to make sure they are needed. I was raised to understand the difference between 'needs' and 'wants'. We as a society - as well as our elected leaders - simply have to examine all expenditures so that needs get funded and good wants are, at least until the debt is paid, not funded. As your Congressman I will apply this principle when debating bills and voting.

The revenue side of the equation must also be addressed. The huge numbers of people currently unemployed and those who have had their home foreclosed has reduced the ability of some to pay more in taxes. But many of us can and need to willingly do so to return our country to a financially sound position. I don't agree with those who say we need to slash taxes and drop virtually all governmental functions. I consider it my patriotic responsibility to pay a fair share of taxes to support programs that make my country strong, successful, and responsive to the needs (not wants!) of citizens. Defining 'fair share' has become far too complicated and tax evasion too easily accomplished. We need to simplify taxes, make them clear and transparent and - ideally - move to a flat tax of one rate for all but the poorest of our citizens.

The United States began its history with an excellent supply of varied natural resources which must be used in a nation-sustaining manner. Our nation arguably made effective use of those resources to grow into the world's hegemonic power by the end of the 20th Century. We are at a point, however, where young people of today will likely experience a lower standard of living than their preceding generation. In short, as individuals and as a nation, we need to realize that the value of homes and investments in such financials as stocks can no longer be assumed to appreciate - at least at the rates we've experienced. We can no longer assume that we can afford the level of government services that we have come to expect. We must learn to discipline ourselves, individually and as a nation, to 'tighten our belts'.

• The increase of expenditures and reduced level of revenues especially over that last decade has created a financial crisis that must be corrected.

• . It is patriotic to pay taxes for the essential services that various levels of government provide. It is patriotic to expect and push for thoughtful and conservative decisions in how tax and other sources of revenue are spent.

• Entitlement portions of the budget must be moderated realistically to reflect revenue realities so that sharp reductions in the future are not likely to be required.