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This week, the Senate finished consideration of a $1.2
trillion infrastructure package. We then moved immediately into consideration of a staggering $3.5 TRILLION “human infrastructure”
package. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework, while far from perfect, includes money for necessary repairs to our
nation’s roads, bridges, and waterways. While I support the overall goals of this legislation, the bill was not fully paid for – nearly a
quarter trillion dollars would need to be paid for with debt spending. As we stare down nearly $30 trillion in debt, I couldn’t in good
conscience add to that. No sooner than we signed our children and grandchildren up for another quarter trillion in national debt,
Senator Bernie Sanders, chairman of the Budget Committee, introduced a $3.5 trillion spending bill full of progressive priorities and new government
programs. Here’s just a sampling of the reckless spending included in this bill:
Congress has gotten too used to using the word trillion when it comes to talking about spending YOUR tax
dollars. That’s a problem. I’m not sure we even fully grasp the magnitude of that number.  Bernie Sanders wants us to add $3,500,000,000,000 to our already staggering national debt. For some context: If I had $3.5 trillion to hand
out, I could give $456 to every human on the planet. ### In Wyoming, the average home costs $273,992. That means if I had $3.5 trillion, I could buy 12,774,095
houses in Wyoming. Spoiler alert: there aren’t that many houses in Wyoming. Actually, at that price I could buy every single home in
Wyoming, Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona and still have money left over.
I
won’t stop ringing this bell. We used to think $9 trillion in debt was unacceptable, yet look where we are now. If we don’t make some
tough decisions now, we risk losing our status as the global financial leader. I don’t want that future for my grandchildren.
I’ve introduced two pieces of legislation aimed at addressing our national debt. The Pay Down the Debt Act cosponsored
by Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) would allow state leadership to return federal grant money to the Treasury with instructions to use it to pay down the
national debt. The Sustainable Budget Act would create a bipartisan commission similar to the Simpson-Bowles Commission tasked with
coming up with ways to sustainably reduce our national debt. Unfortunately, neither of these pieces of legislation
are a silver bullet. Congress needs to curb our spending today in order to preserve a prosperous future for our grandchildren and
great-grandchildren. Happy Trails,
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My new office in Star Valley opened last week! It was so great to see new
faces and reconnect with some old friends. Sarah Hale, the Field Representative for the Star Valley office, is a long time local resident. She is a
great resource and an even better listening ear for any concerns you may have. Please feel free to reach out to her at [email protected].
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OFFICE LOCATIONS |
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