U.S. CONGRESSMAN DEAN HELLER Representing the 2th Congressional District of Nevada

Federal Spending and the Deficit

The national deficit for 2009 is $1.4 trillion.  As our national debt grows, the dollar is weakened and Americans have to work more so we can buy less.  Curbing out of control spending and balancing the budget should be a top priority for Congress.  Despite record spending on bailouts, stimulus bill, and programs such as Cash for Clunkers, Congress pushed through a 20% increase in government spending for the 2010 fiscal year.  It is time that more than lip service is paid to controlling government spending.  The only thing that follows record debt and spending is record tax increases. 

For this reason I am a coauthor of the balanced budget amendment that would require our government to live within its means just Americans are required to do.  As our national debt continues to grow, it is time to make fiscal responsibility a real priority.