Washington has an addiction to spending, and it must stop. The national debt recently passed the $15 trillion mark, and if left unchecked, this type of government spending threatens the very stability of our country. As a result of out-of-control spending, many European countries today find themselves on the brink of insolvency, and we must work together to ensure America does not go down that path. I am the only member of the Massachusetts congressional delegation who opposes earmarks, which are symbolic of Washington’s out-of-control spending. I opposed the trillion dollar stimulus bill that failed to create jobs, as well as the $700 billion taxpayer-funded bank bailout known as TARP. I support a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution and believe it will force the federal government to finally get its fiscal house in order. Forty-nine states – including Massachusetts – have a balanced budget requirement at a state level, and it has proven to be an effective tool at curbing government spending. Middle-class families all across this country balance their budgets every day, and it is long past time for Washington to do the same.
