Spending Cuts and Debt
Washington doesn't tax too little, it spends too much. For generations now, Washington has wasted your hard-earned tax dollars and racked-up a massive and dangerous national debt of over $17 trillion in the process. Your family knows how to make a budget, stick to a plan, and tighten the belt when times are tough. Our government must do the same. I have introduced legislation that will require the President to provide the cost-per-taxpayer of the annual budget deficit contained in his budget proposals. While a small step forward, I hope that added transparency like this will focus policy makers on wasteful Washington spending. I will continue working to eliminate reckless and irresponsible spending so hard-working taxpayers get the efficient, effective, and accountable government they deserve.
More on Spending Cuts and Debt
Today, the House passed Congressman Luke Messer’s debt ceiling transparency amendment to The Debt Management and Fiscal Responsibility Act (H.R. 3442).
Currently, our nation’s debt sits at $19 trillion and counting. Conflicts over the debt limit have led to destabilization, lower growth and more borrowing. H.R. 3442 brings much needed transparency to the debt management process and will force the Administration to stop politicizing debt ceiling debates.
WASHINGTON--Congressman Luke Messer (IN-06) released the following statement after the President released his FY 2017 budget proposal that will increase spending by $2.5 trillion:
WASHINGTON—Today, Congressman Luke Messer (IN-06) voted to override the President’s veto of the bicameral budget bill that repeals Obamacare, defunds Planned Parenthood and saves tax payers $516 billion.
In December, the House and Senate both passed the Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act (H.R. 3762). The passage of this bill marked the first time both the House and Senate voted to defund both Obamacare and Planned Parenthood. On January 8, 2016, the President vetoed that bill.
WASHINGTON — Today, the House passed Congressman Luke Messer’s (IN-06) budget transparency bill (H.R. 1315) that would require the President’s annual budget submission to include the cost-per-taxpayer of the deficit every year.
“Each hardworking American taxpayer deserves to know how much Washington’s deficit spending costs them,” said Rep. Messer. “The cost-per-taxpayer of the deficit will serve as a powerful reminder to the President and Congress that our decisions here in Washington have real-world consequences for people at home.”
In 2010, Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, went on a three-day “Conversations with the Country” tour. While traveling across the Midwest, he had a stark warning about our nation’s fiscal trajectory. He said, “The most significant threat to our national security is our debt.” Think about that. The highest-ranking officer in the U.S. armed forces believes Washington’s tax-and-spend culture is putting our country’s future in jeopardy. Sadly, five years after those words of warning, Washington hasn’t done much about it.
WASHINGTON—Congressman Luke Messer released the following statement after H. Con. Res. 27, A Balanced Budget for a Stronger America, passed the House 228 to 199.
WASHINGTON—This week, Congressman Luke Messer re-introduced a bill that would require the President’s annual budget submission to include the cost-per-taxpayer of the deficit for each year the budget is projected to be in deficit (H.R. 1315).
“Deficit spending has real world consequences,” said Congressman Messer. "This legislation would make sure taxpayers know how much the deficit costs them every year.”
WASHINGTON— House Budget Committee Chairman Tom Price (GA-06) today met with members of the House Republican Policy Committee to discuss the budget process and highlight the importance of balancing the budget responsibly as soon as possible.
Rep. Luke Messer (R-Ind.) has introduced legislation that would terminate lawmakers' salaries if Congress doesn't pass a budget that balances within ten years.
Members of Congress would stop receiving their paychecks if they don't approve a budget that eliminates the deficit within a decade by April 15 of each year.
Messer, who chairs the House Republican Policy Committee, said the threat of losing their pay would motivate lawmakers to approve a budget on time.
WASHINGTON—Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) and Representative Luke Messer (R-IN) today introduced the Balanced Budget Accountability Act to require that Congress passes a balanced budget – or members won’t get paid.
The Balanced Budget Accountability Act strengthens accountability in Washington. It encourages members of Congress to commit to the annual budget process as required by law and pass budgets that balance within ten years.
