The Hill News

The major victory by Republicans this last election is widely attributed to a call for fiscal restraint and reform. Further, many of my conservative colleagues have long been calling for the same, and remain committed to putting our fiscal house back in order. That said, more than a mere trimming back on discretionary spending is needed. Our financial house is on far shakier ground than just can be accounted for by waste fraud and abuse.

Did you know that in 2011, every discretionary dollar that the federal government spends will be borrowed? In other words, entitlement programs and the interest on our national debt will require every dollar that the federal government brings in as revenue. Did you know that in 2011, the federal deficit will be a record $1.5 trillion? To put this in perspective, that is over $4800 in debt spending this year alone for each and every citizen of the United States. It is clear that our nation’s budget situation is unsustainable ! and is a reality that will come to a shock to even many of those who have been calling for reform.

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