Freedom Watch
A Prescription for Fiscal Discipline
It's one medicine Obamacare won't care to cover.
With the U.S. national debt at $13 trillion and increasing by more than $3 million every minute, I fear our freedom is at risk. While neither political party can boast of demonstrating fiscal restraint recently, the Democrats' tax, spend, and borrow policies are robbing future generations of the freedom and opportunity we enjoy today.
Over the past two years, Washington has seized every opportunity to increase spending, increase taxes, and, as a result, increase uncertainty in the private sector. Washington's legislative agenda has increased the financial burden on job creators, causing individuals and families to feel the pain as well. With unemployment looming near 10 percent, small businesses are struggling to make payroll, and families are tightening their belts to pay their mortgages, electric bills, and medical bills.
The big-government stimulus forced through by Democrats last year cost the American tax-payers more than $1 trillion, with the promise that unemployment would remain below 8 percent. Instead, more than 3 million individuals lost their jobs, the deficit rose to a record-high $1.6 trillion, and three out of four Americans now believe that their hard-earned tax dollars were wasted. To make matters worse, Democrats wasted little time before pushing through an unaffordable and unconstitutional takeover of our nation's health care system.
In the few short months since the bill became law, the estimated costs of the new health care mandates have increased by a staggering $115 billion. ObamaCare not only robs patients of the freedom to make their own health care decisions, but it also takes away more economic freedom by forcing families and small businesses to bear a weighty economic burden. An overwhelming majority (90 percent) of employers believe health care reform will increase their organization's health care benefit costs. Eighty percent of those businesses plan to pass the increased costs from the law on to their employees through higher premiums. Despite the fact that most Americans opposed a government takeover of health care, individuals will now be forced to pay for products and services they do not want and cannot afford.
Unfortunately, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Leader Harry Reid have several more items left in their overreaching agenda. Their cap and trade and financial regulatory reform proposals will put millions of Americans out of work, further increase federal spending, increase the debt, and give more control of the private sector to the government.
In order to preserve their personal freedoms, the American people must demand fiscal discipline from Washington. The most basic step toward fiscal responsibility is balancing the books. I introduced a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would ensure the federal government does not spend more than it takes in. If American families overspend or hit hard times, they have to adjust -- Congress should be expected to do the same. After decades of deficit spending, it's time to make balancing our budgets the rule -- not the exception.
The Declaration of Independence acknowledges that each individual is endowed with the right to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." These basic rights start with allowing individuals, families, and businesses to keep more of the money they earn. We can achieve this by shifting Washington's focus from empowering bureaucrats to empowering individuals -- giving folks the freedom to choose how and when to spend their resources. Rather than squeezing every last penny out of the pockets of families and small businesses, my balanced budget amendment would require all surplus revenue at the end of the fiscal year to be returned to American taxpayers.
I am confident that restoring fiscal discipline to the federal budget will restore and retain freedom for individuals, families, and job creators. However, the American people can not sit idly by and allow Washington to continue to spend their hard-earned money. If Americans want to ensure their liberty is preserved, they have to demand change. The good news is "we the people" have the ultimate power to affect the policies that come out of Washington.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (12) | Leave a comment
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Maddox| 7.29.10 @ 6:53AM
I am confident we cannot count on politicians to do what is necessary to restore fiscal discipline. This would not serve their self interest and buy the votes they need to pad their bankrolls and secure their invitation to the next big Washington party.
We can keep trying but it doesn't appear "we the people" actually have the power anymore. We are being ruled by Marxists and rogue judges.
Ret. Marine| 7.29.10 @ 7:59AM
The only way for We the People to have fiscal dicipline is to get rid of entirely the political class and the elitist mentality they represent. Out side of the use of "armed force" I just don't see it as a likely event. One way or the other we may have to go that route. pray daily for the consent of the governed to come to the same conclusion, only then will "they" get it. I am not along along this line of thinking, just ask an unemployed person where the money went to from the stimulas and see the reaction of their bitterness and anger. It's as plain as the lieing ass's of the politicians who touted this mess. They must go or we as a Nation are history.
The people are getting restless and more angry by the day. Something is going to give, and it ain't gonna be purdy.
Jerry C| 7.29.10 @ 12:07PM
Obama Care is already saving millions a year in the Maryland state budget.
Ken Old Texican)| 7.29.10 @ 12:56PM
Jerry C.
Of course it is. We solvent Texans have been handed your bills.
What if we refuse to pay your bills?
DanMingo| 7.29.10 @ 6:02PM
So why is it the 'red' states take the majority of the money from the federal government, and the 'blue' states pay for them?
http://taxprof.typepad.com/tax....._feed.html
DatsunMark| 8.1.10 @ 12:31PM
DanMingo,
Why should anyone pay for someone else in *any* state? Want healthcare...? Go get it yourself. Otherwise, get ready for Soylent Green. (I been cutting down on Soylent Red due to health issues)
Adam| 8.10.10 @ 8:32PM
This map does not account for all of the other transfers such as bailouts and other items. In fact the bailouts almost exclusively went to state Obummer won. Plus This the site you point to is hardly a legitimate site. Go to a real site with real data perhaps. I have seen comepletely different data elsewhere. But note, the Blue states are also the highest tax states as well as the most fiscally reckless.
David| 7.29.10 @ 3:20PM
Nice comeback Old Texican.
shearwater| 7.30.10 @ 10:28AM
West Virginia has a lot of our tax dollars from the cleverness and skill of Sen. Robert Burd, heralded as the nation's top constitutional scholar by his liberal colleagues. West Virgina has more boondoggle projects that raked in money from government entitlement programs than a host of other states, thanks to your tax dollars. We need a fresh Contract with America to sunset many of these programs installed by democrats with no funding.
Werner Koch| 7.30.10 @ 3:15PM
WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN
Congress and the White House should stop squandering the people’s money first and use savings to improve quality of basic invested entitlements. No new taxes. Citizens come first. Congress should refurbish health care. Vote opponents to this “out”.
It is time the U.S. decreases its human rites and police activities for the World by lobbying the United Nations, NATO and Interpol to “take on more”. 800 bases in 63 countries across the world should be reduced. Starting with Iraq, remove most troops in 2010 and continue training for self reliance. After a surge in Afghanistan repeat above and remove corruption starting with substituting minerals mining and food crops for drugs. Reduce forces in selected areas such as Germany, Bosnia and Okinawa.
Cut federal bureaucracy. Combine CDC, EPA and FDA. Combine the FAA, NHTSA and Transportation Department. Phase in outsourcing. Eliminate all 32 CZARS Mr. president. Reduce your 469 member staff which makes nearly 39 million per year!
Eliminate “must spend all”. Departments should return “unused” yearly budget to the treasury.
Contribute to only one of: The World Bank or International Monetary Fund or U.S. Agency for International Development.
Reduce foreign aid bribery. For example, no aid to oil rich -Iraq. $37 billion and increasing with $8.6 billion of Iraq development funds not accounted for.
Reduce the “stimulus” or monetary expenditures by halting non relevant earmarks and vote bribery.
Please- no private or military jets for congress including Pelosi’s family at taxpayer expense. Congress should set commercial travel cost standards and controls.
Charge bailed companies (TARP) for the huge executive bonuses at taxpayer expense.
Return the 1.6 $ billion.
Reduce medical cost by; allowing insurance anywhere in U.S., “tort reform”, and reducing “red tape”. Allocate funds to local providers to expedite billing cost speed, reviews and reduce fraud.
Federal government should enforce existing immigration laws. Complete the improved fence. Entitlements or benefits should be for only citizens. Deport criminal “illegals”. Only workers on a Visa Program qualify for needed medical benefits
Improve medical expense tax deduction for citizens reaching age 65. Provide corporations tax reduction incentives for implementing healthcare.
The savings will provide adequate funding for:” Medicare”, “Medicaid, and “Veteran’s Affairs”.
Healthcare quality should be at least that for Congress or the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). A final result is no drug “donut hole”, dental coverage, improved visual coverage and no co-pays except for extended skilled level nursing.
These actions will allow aid for unemployment compensation and Social Security with cost of living increases
FWB| 8.12.10 @ 4:13PM
We need a constitutional amendment that puts a limit on federal debt. The debt limit could only be increased if Congress declares war on a sovereign nation and starts a draft.
The first Balanced Budget Amendment was introduced in 1936 and every session of Congress since then has seen them. Time to quit beating that dead horse.
Treasurydirect.gov shows the federal debt increasing every year since 1957.
"It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debt as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one half the wars of the world."
Thomas Jefferson
Nassovian| 8.13.10 @ 9:32AM
Dr. Broun, excellent article. "When all else fails, reread the instruction book" sure seems crucial, I'm glad you are a Congressman who thinks like a patriot.
Seems as though quite a few in Congress, and citizens at large appear to not understand what are theircivic duties. Perhaps a refresher from Harvard Law school (1829) may help establish the duty of us all to pay strict attention, lest we be left "with nothing but our eyes, with which to cry" when our property (money) is plundered.
Quotes from:
VALUE AND IMPORTANCE OF LEGAL STUDIES.
A DISCOURSE PRONOUNCED UPON THE INAUGURATION OF THE AUTHOR AS DANE PROFESSOR OF LAW IN
HARVARD UNIVERSITY, AUGUST 25, 1829.
BY U.S. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE
JOSEPH STORY, A.M., LL.D.
Story:
“An American citizen has many political duties to perform, and his activity is constantly demanded for the preservation of the public interests.”
"Upon the actual administration of justice in all governments, and especially in free governments, must depend the welfare of the whole community.
The sacred rights of property are to be guarded at every point. I call them sacred, because, if they are unprotected, all other rights become worthless or visionary.
What is personal liberty, if it does not draw after it the right to enjoy the fruits of our own industry? What is political liberty, if it imparts only perpetual poverty to us, and all our posterity’?
What is the privilege of a vote, if the majority of the hour may sweep away the earnings of our whole lives, to gratify the rapacity of the indolent, the cunning, or the profligate, who are borne into power upon the tide of a temporary popularity? "
Note, does this last thought sound familiar?
I suggest searching up Justice Story and reading this title and his Constitutional Commentaries may be in order... .