Fiscal Responsibilty
Congress has become reckless with the American taxpayers’ money. Bailouts, stimulus packages and other irresponsible infusions of taxpayer funds have become business as usual for Congress. It is a business that I do not support and that I will continue to oppose. Congress must do a much better job of being good stewards of taxpayer money.
Americans are struggling and we need to get the country moving, but recklessly throwing taxpayer dollars at our problems is not the right solution. It is irresponsible to reward the bad behavior of a few at the expense of the many and further increasing our country’s already crippling debt.
I voted against last fall’s financial bailout bill in Congress because it placed the burden of Wall Street’s mistakes on American taxpayers. It is irresponsible to further increase our country’s already crippling debt – to $11.3 trillion – to achieve a temporary and uncertain fix today. Even though this measure passed through Congress and was signed into law by the President, our work is not done. We can continue to spend recklessly, or face the problem head-on in a fiscally responsible manner to create a better world not only for ourselves, but for future generations.
I opposed the spending package passed by Congress in February of 2009. The legislation started out as an infrastructure bill, designed to put people to work on construction projects. In the end, only seven to eight percent of the total amount included went toward infrastructure and transportation projects. The bulk of the billions in spending went toward programs that simply will not stimulate the economy. Congress must do a much better job of controlling spending and being good stewards of taxpayer money.
Congress spends too much money – money that we do not have. I cannot support measures that automatically put our next generation at a disadvantage while not providing any assurances for success. I will continue to oppose reckless spending, support accountability and oversight, and work to address our country’s problems in a fiscally responsible manner.
