Let’s just call this the hill I’m willing to die on.
I don’t care who is in charge; I have never voted to raise the debt limit and likely never will. Why? Because America is nearly $32 trillion in debt right now. That’s right, 32,000,000,000,000…a figure with a whopping 12 zeros.
Knowing this, I voted against the debt ceiling legislation that narrowly passed in the House this week. Sure, I was one of just four Republicans who stood up for what’s right—but that’s fine with me.
As East Tennessee’s elected representative, I aim to stay true to the shared values that got me here in the first place. I understand that those values aren't just fancy talk—they're the bedrock of our community. That's why I'm committed to standing up for what's right and fighting for the folks who put their faith in me.
I’ve said it hundreds of times, and I’ll say it hundreds more—this reckless spending and never-ending taxation has got to stop. If we don't put an end to it, our children’s children’s children will be living with the consequences of our foolish spending sprees.
But it’s not only the boldfaced spending I’m worried about.
It also grinds my gears that there’s a severe lack of transparency when it comes to how our tax dollars are being spent in Washington. I mean, this is your money we're talking about! You work hard for it, and you deserve to know where it's going. But let me tell you, I'm not seeing nearly enough accountability from those in charge. That’s why we must hold our elected officials' feet to the fire and demand better.
Today, tomorrow, and always, you can count on me to stay true to the promises I made to each and every one of you. It often feels like my back’s against the wall, but I’ll keep fighting for fiscal responsibility until the very end.
