Budget

We need to cut spending.  Especially during difficult economic times, families across the 12th District make changes to their spending habits to make ends meet.  I believe that Congress should do the same. 

I have always been a strong supporter of cutting wasteful government spending and balancing the federal budget.  But those cuts must be made by prioritizing spending, rather than making across-the-board cuts, as was done through sequestration.

To protect and secure Social Security, pay down the national debt, and promote a strong national defense, Congress must balance the need for valuable programs with the need for fiscal responsibility.  We can’t afford to continue to spend any more money than we have. 

I believe that it is necessary to balance the budget without increasing taxes.  Tax increases would hurt the district’s job creators and hard-working families who are already stretched thin because of a down national economy. 

Rather than looking for new revenue streams, I will look for ways to get government spending under control and once again balance the federal budget.

Balanced Budget Amendment
Texas has long operated under a balanced budget requirement, meaning the legislature cannot pass a budget that exceeds their anticipated revenue.  It makes sense and it’s the same way that we run our family budgets.

Under the Obama administration, however, the federal government is running a multi-billion-dollar budget deficit each year, which has increased our national debt to more than $16 trillion. 

That’s why I am a co-sponsor of a federal balanced budget amendment (H.J.Res.11).  While there would be waivers for extreme circumstances, such as times of war, this constitutional amendment would ensure Washington does what the Texas legislature and all American families must do: live within its means.