Federal Spending and Borrowing
The growth of government spending is out of control. In the past four years our nation has added about $6 trillion in new debt borrowed against our children and grandchildren’s' future. Unfortunately, both parties have been complicit in increasing government spending dramatically, though for very different reasons. Today our nation faces $16 trillion in debt, much of it owed to foreign countries hostile to our economic interests and way of life. While some believe that these challenges can simply be put off to a later date, I believe that the time to act against higher borrowing is now.
I believe that part of the solution to our debt problem is to scale back the federal government and return to the private sector any federal job that could be done more efficiently by a business. There is any number of tasks performed by the federal government which could be provided at both lower cost and higher efficiency by a privately-operated business with real concerns about keeping costs down.
A second common-sense step is to limit the duplicative duties of many federal agencies, which often conflict and can be counterproductive. For example, in Siskiyou County, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Environmental Protection Agency all believe that they have a role in the regulation of water supply and use. These agencies provide conflicting direction, fight amongst themselves and generally fail to provide the area's farmers and ranchers with any clear path to profitable operation. Add in the regular disputes these agencies have with similar entities in California's state government and there is a wide array of government workers doing essentially the same job - an incredibly expensive and counterproductive way to operate.
For more information concerning my work and views on Spending Cuts and Debt, please contact me.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you.
More on Federal Spending and Borrowing
Washington, DC – Rep. Doug LaMalfa today voted for the House Republican budget plan (“Ryan Budget”), which balances the federal budget within the next ten years. The Ryan budget, H. Con. Res. 25, saves billions by eliminating spending caused by the Obama health care takeover, reducing bureaucracy and protecting defense funding.
Washington, DC – Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) today released the following statement of support for Chairman Paul Ryan’s budget, which will balance the federal budget within the next decade.
Washington, DC – Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) today announced the introduction of H.R. 1038, the Public Power Risk Management Act, which will protect public power ratepayers from cost increases by increasing the sources from which public power entities may purchase energy for future needs. The bill will eliminate red tape inadvertently imposed on public power entities by the Dodd-Frank financial reform bill in 2010. Northern California communities that could benefit from the bill include Redding, Biggs, Shasta Lake, Susanville, Roseville, Sacramento and others.
Washington, DC – Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) today voted in favor of H.R. 933, which funds the federal government’s operations for the remainder of the year while maintaining the $85 billion in spending reductions imposed by the sequester. The bill passed on a 267-151 vote and reduces annual spending, but also provides full funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs and military.
Washington, DC – Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) issued the following response to the Obama Administration’s apparent insistence on choosing the most painful sequester cuts possible in an effort to increase support for tax increases:
Washington, DC – Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) today commented on the failure of the Obama administration to publicly release a budget plan by the date required by federal law. The administration has missed the budget release deadline 80% of its time in office.