Last week marked an important milestone in the struggle toward fiscal responsibility in Congress: we passed a budget for the year. Although we as taxpayers may not see its effects yet, it is important for all of us to take note as it will undoubtedly touch each of our lives. Keeping Americans safe is my foremost Constitutional obligation, and defense and homeland security spending has been a top priority in the last two years. We are now on the road to peace, and our economy is growing in strength every day. To have an effective budget, Congress must prioritize. It is my duty as a member of Congress to make sure that your tax dollars are spent wisely and efficiently, and that’s my goal in supporting this budget. I’m also pleased to report that our budget this year includes a provision for waste, fraud and abuse. There is a provision in the bill that directs five House committees – Agriculture, Education and the Workforce, Energy and Commerce, Government Reform and Oversight, and Ways and Means – to carefully examine program areas under their jurisdictions, and eliminate any waste, fraud and abuse that they find. This will weed out spending that doesn’t fit into our priorities for the year. The next big battle brewing in Washington will be about tax relief. I think we should stop the effort to take away tax relief, which would raise taxes and choke the economic recovery. This budget continues tax benefits that have helped put our economy on the right track. The last thing we need to do at this point is raise taxes and take hard-earned money away from those who earned it. The budgets that really matter are created around kitchen tables all over Minnesota. This year’s budget provides a blueprint for spending while funding legislative priorities like education and the War on Terror in a fiscally responsible way. We must continue to encourage opportunities for a better life with quality health care, sound retirement and the benefits veterans deserve. Spending in Washington has increased by 750 billion dollars in the past 10 years. Congress needs to do what Minnesota proved possible: balance the budget by controlling government spending. I am proud to support legislation to leave more money in your hands. This year’s budget is good for our families, as well as for the economy.
