Budget and Spending

America borrows one million dollars every thirty seconds to satisfy Washington’s out-of-control spending habit.

What benefits do we receive from borrowing so recklessly?  More regulations, a greater tax burden, an even bigger bureaucracy, a no-growth economy, and fewer jobs for American families.

As a Member of the Republican Study Committee’s Budget Task Force, I fought this year for a responsible budget which balances in 10 years, grows an opportunity economy, and helps create good paying jobs. 

The House FY2016 budget, passed earlier this year, focuses on less government, lower taxes, strong national defense, and keeping our promises to America’s seniors and veterans.
 

• Balances the budget in ten years without raising taxes, in contrast to President Obama’s budget, which never, ever balances.
• Cuts $5.5 trillion in wasteful government spending.
• Calls for a fairer, simpler tax code to promote job growth and an opportunity economy.
• Ends the Obamacare raid on Medicare, prevents President Obama’s plan to raid the Social Security trust fund, and makes common sense reforms to protect Medicare’s long-term viability.
• Rejects President Obama’s unwise cuts to national defense.
• Provides responsible funding for troop training, equipment, and military pay.
• Because Washington doesn’t know best, our budget gives states greater flexibility to tailor Medicaid, nutrition assistance, and education programs to local needs.

Washington’s spending is so out-of-control that the annual Government Accountability Office report on reducing waste, duplication, and overlap in federal operations is routinely ignored.  This year, I joined with Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Senate Budget Committee Chair Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) to introduce bipartisan legislation to put the GAO’s recommendations into action.

The USA Act (H.R. 3300) will save hardworking American taxpayers at least $57 billion over ten years through common sense reforms to how bureaucrats spend your money:
 

• Bulk purchasing, to save taxpayer money by leveraging the federal government’s massive buying power.
• Real estate management reform, including the sale of unneeded government property.
• Reducing Medicare and Medicaid fraud through better fraud detection systems.
• Several Information Technology reforms, including consolidation of data centers.

Americans want good paying jobs, an opportunity economy that benefits everyone, and a federal government that lives by the same rules as ordinary American families.  As your Congressman, that’s what I’m fighting for in Washington.