Steve Daines | Budget Reform

As the country approaches the deadline for raising the debt ceiling, it?s clear that we cannot come up with a compromised solution that promises a return to debt ceiling issues in the future. As our citizens and countries around the world watch this political battle it is imperative that Congress finally shows that it is serious about budget reform.  A balanced budget amendment attached to raising the debt ceiling would do just that. This amendment would require that the federal budget be balanced each year, a restriction that would halt the runaway spending that has put the country in its current situation.
 
The issue is that if we don?t start planning drastic cuts now we?re going to be forced into cuts at some point in the future that will be deeper and more painful. Cutting wasteful spending that seems to be just part of the business as usual attitude in Washington has to happen now. Other actions would entail transferring certain federal functions back to the states, communities and people that can do a better job on local issues than can be done in Washington. Additionally we should be conducting these talks in the open instead of the back room dealing that results in deals which benefit the few but are paid for by all taxpayers.

This issue really comes down to leadership, a commodity that appears to be very rare in Washington these days. It is time to take this country back with strong actions and measures that will balance the budget and get us back on solid financial ground. With the debt ceiling deadline looming, the time to take action is now.


Steve Daines for Montana