By Representative Steve Austria
Like many of you, I am very concerned about our nation’s economic future and the excessive government spending that has occurred over the past few years. That is why the new majority in Congress, led by House Speaker and fellow Ohioan John Boehner, is responding to the American people’s request to change the way they do things in Washington – and that starts with reducing the $14 trillion debt and cutting the wasteful Washington spending.
Last week, Congress responded to the American people’s request to change the way we do things in Washington, D.C. We did the difficult work of cutting government spending in a full, open and transparent process in which the House Speaker allowed more than 600 amendments to be offered and countless hours of debate to take place on the House floor. Although there were many difficult decisions, we were united in our purpose, and the end result is significant: more than *$100 billion has been cut from the budget for Fiscal Year 2011. These cuts are essential to helping put our country back on a fiscally-sustainable path that will create jobs in the private sector and strengthen the economy for our children and grandchildren.
The Senate must now work with the House to pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) which must include cuts to Washington spending to keep the federal government operating.
Pleased be assured that I remain committed to principles of smaller, more accountable government; economic freedom; lower taxes; fiscal responsibility; protecting life, American values, and the Constitution; and providing for strong national security. The governing agenda of the majority, as outlined in the Pledge to America, offers a way forward that is consistent with all of these principles.
The foundation of our plan is to get the economy back on track by creating jobs. As a former small business owner, I understand that the way to help create new jobs is by helping the small businesses who are the job creators. We must promote policies that will protect individual choice and help our small businesses. Now is the time for Congress to address the issues facing our nation and I believe we took the first steps last week. The road ahead may be hard, but we must reverse the spending binge and work to reduce the crippling national debt.
*(source: House Republican Conference)