Next week, President Obama will release his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2012. It is my hope that the proposal will reflect the clear message sent by the people on Election Day, that in order to create jobs and grow the economy we must get our fiscal house in order.
Unfortunately, the Administration’s initial suggestions to freeze spending at current levels, combined with its continued commitment to more failed stimulus-style spending, eludes the real kind of change that needs to take place in Washington.
With our national debt soaring past $14 trillion and our deficit reaching nearly $1.5 trillion, freezing spending at an artificially high and accelerated level is not enough.
And with unemployment continuing to remain at an unacceptable rate, the last thing we need is more government spending, more taxing, and more borrowing.
To truly turn our economy around, we need a renewed commitment to the kinds of policies that will inject a level of certainty into our economy that will give our job creators the confidence necessary to hire and expand once again.
Reining in government spending and returning to pre-stimulus, pre-bailout levels, reducing unnecessary regulations, and forcing our government to live within its means by passing a balanced budget amendment are all steps in the right direction.
The actions next week in the House will seek to continue to move our economy forward as we chart a new course of fiscal discipline and restraint.
For the first time in years, the House will debate cutting government spending rather than increasing it as we initiate the consideration of a budget proposal for the remaining seven months of this fiscal year.
This historic bill stands in direct contrast to last year’s Congress, which failed to propose or even pass a budget, allowing government spending to go unchecked and putting us on an unsustainable path that threatens the economic outlook of our country.
As I review the proposal and amendments put forth in the House, and with the future of our nation at stake, I remain fully committed to delivering on my promise to the people of the Fifth District to cut spending to reduce our debt, create jobs, and grow the economy.
If you need any additional information on these or any other issues, please visit my website at www.hurt.house.gov or call my Washington office: (202) 225-4711, Charlottesville office: (434) 973-9631, or Danville office: (434) 791-2596.
Robert Hurt represents the Fifth District in the United States House of Representatives.
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