Budget
I have always been a strong supporter of cutting wasteful government spending and balancing the federal budget. In April 2014, the House passed a budget with my support that cuts spending by more than $5 trillion dollars and balances the budget within 10 years.
To protect and secure Social Security, pay down the national debt, and promote a strong national defense, Congress must balance the need for valuable programs with the need for fiscal responsibility. We can’t afford to continue spending more money than we have.
I also believe that it is necessary to balance the budget without increasing taxes. Tax increases would hurt the District’s job creators and hard-working families who are already stretched thin because of a down national economy.
Rather than raising taxes, I will continue to look for ways to get government spending under control and once again balance the federal budget.
Balanced Budget Amendment
Texas has long operated under a balanced budget requirement, meaning the legislature cannot pass a budget that exceeds their anticipated revenue. It makes sense and it’s the same way that we run our family budgets.
Under the Obama administration, however, the federal government is running a multi-billion-dollar budget deficit each year, which has increased our national debt to more than $16 trillion.
That’s why I was a co-sponsor of a federal balanced budget amendment (H.J.Res.11) during the 113th Congress. While there would be waivers for extreme circumstances, such as times of war, this constitutional amendment would ensure Washington does what the Texas legislature and all American families must do: live within its means.