America is $28.5 trillion in debt. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress has authorized $4.5 trillion in new spending, of which, $3 trillion has already been spent. This massive amount of spending in such a short time is one of the main reasons the price of gas and groceries are skyrocketing. For each dollar the federal government prints, every other dollar in circulation loses value. This is unsustainable. The value of a dollar needs to be strong to ensure the U.S. remains a world financial leader. If we keep diluting our currency, it hurts both our economy and your checkbook.
After the extreme amount of COVID-19 spending, logic would tell us that we need to tighten our belts and cut back. That is not the case in Washington.
This week, the House passed nine of the 12 spending bills that will fund the government in 2022. Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats decided the time is right to increase our spending, expand our deficit, and add to our debt. Several bills increased spending over last year's levels (which were an increase over the previous year as well) by over 13 percent, one by 36 percent. During my time in office, I have learned that most Washington politicians are either unwilling or unable to stop spending your money so irresponsibly.
I voted against each of this week's bills because it is unwise to borrow more money and increase spending at a time when the national debt has ballooned so high that it has become a national security threat.
We need to get our fiscal house in order so we aren't leaving mountains of debt to our children and grandchildren. That is why I offered several reasonable amendments to these bills to reign in spending. Unfortunately, the Democratic majority said no to my suggestions and continued their sprint toward increasing the national debt.
Now, more than ever, is the time to have serious conversations about the direction of our country. Some of our problems can be solved with a new law, or an executive order or the elimination of a burdensome regulation. But, the national debt must be addressed by Congress. Before we solve anything, members of Congress who wish to spend more and more each year must come to the table and realize that this kind of reckless spending is unsustainable and will lead to the demise of America.
I will continue to fight for common sense cuts, but since Democrats currently control Congress, the ball is in their court.
