Control Spending Now for a Better Future
By: U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis
Published: January 10, 2007
The Tennessean

Like all grandparents, I love my grandchildren. I also worry about their future. As a Member of Congress, much of my worry stems from our government's financial situation-namely our annual budget deficits and record $8.7 trillion national debt. This is a serious burden to place on the shoulders of future generations.

Frankly, Congress must cut up the credit card, cap spending, and operate under the basic principal behind every responsible family budget-live within your means. Thankfully, the new Democratic majority in Congress is ready to face this challenge and end the practice of "borrow and spend" budgeting. By the second day of the new Congress, Democrats changed the operating rules of the House of Representatives to re-instate pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) rules and implement true earmark reform. These first steps are crucial to restoring fiscal discipline in Washington.

When PAYGO was in place in the 1990's, spending as a percentage of the gross domestic product (GDP) declined from 22.1% to 18.5% by 2001. As a result, huge budget deficits became a budget surplus. Shortly after President Bush took office, the Congress unwisely let PAYGO expire causing an explosion in government spending and yearly budget deficits. Our national debt grew by $3 trillion over this period, and by 2005 spending had clawed its way back to 20.1% of GDP.

Changing the House rules to reinstate PAYGO is the first step, but it cannot be the last. I, along with my colleagues in the Blue Dog Coalition, have a comprehensive plan to get our country's financial books back in the black. First, we must cap spending as a percentage of GDP at no more than 20.1%, today's level of spending, with the goal of reducing spending to its level during President Clinton's last year in office, 18.5%. Next, we must give PAYGO the strength of law and make it part of the statute. Additionally, Congress should require a balanced budget, establish an emergency spending fund, require cost estimates for bills that come to the House floor and conduct more oversight into government spending. There are many other measures we can implement to reduce the deficit, but I believe these, along with PAYGO and earmark reforms, will begin paving the way to a brighter fiscal future for our country.

Our budget represents our morals as a nation. In my opinion, it is morally wrong to burden our soldiers fighting in Iraq and future generations with the bill from the war and an $8.7 trillion national debt. Lastly, it is morally wrong for the Congress to do one thing with its checkbook while expecting families to do another. It's time for Congress to do better and that begins now.

U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis represents the 4th Congressional District of Tennessee. He may be reached at (202) 225-6831 or He may be reached at (202) 225-6831 or by visiting www.house.gov/lincolndavis.