Rep. Sears on government waste & the debt
The following was sent via e-mail as a guest Column From Representative Barbara Sears:
Cut Government Waste, Reduce the Debt
As a mother, I have always taught my sons the necessity of living within their means and avoiding accumulating debt. Especially with the onset of the economic recession, I have stressed the importance of trimming down excess expenditures during an unstable economy. But as the government continues to grow its power and become increasingly embedded in our everyday lives, it also continues to inefficiently consume our tax dollars. As Ohio’s families struggle to make ends meet, the last thing we need is for government growth and spending to spiral out of control.
Many of our leaders in Columbus and Washington do not follow the same common sense principles that the families and businesses in our communities follow. For too long, the government has enjoyed the luxury of extracting money from the taxpayers after spending too much and accumulating debt. During this difficult economy, boosting spending instead of cutting waste will damage the budget and force future generations to pay off our mistakes.
The U.S. Capitol has witnessed skyrocketing spending proposals and trillion-dollar bills being pushed through at an unprecedented pace. These bills include the $12 trillion bailout packages, the $1 trillion health care overhaul, and a devastating tax on energy companies that will lead to inflated energy costs. In fact, the 10,000 pork projects that are consuming our tax dollars, like turtle eco-passages and new skate parks, will increase federal spending by nearly $20 billion this year alone.
As you struggle through this recession, your hard-earned money should be used to provide for your family and put food on the table—not to finance Washington’s unchecked spending. Why should you be forced to pay for wasteful spending while you yourself are making every effort to save?
I firmly believe that the top priority of all local, state and federal leaders should be helping families through this difficult time by allowing them to keep more of their own money. The government needs to sacrifice just as you are every day, which means eliminating wasteful projects that will ultimately increase the burden on taxpayers.
If your family is like mine, you have probably worked your entire life to provide your kids with a better life than you had. But if the government continues to spend money at this rate, our children and our grandchildren will no longer be working and saving for their own futures; they will instead be working to pay off the government’s multi-trillion dollar debt.
We can’t recklessly spend without consequences, and we can’t solve a growing debt problem by accumulating even more debt. With foreclosure filings in Lucas County 94 percent higher than a year ago, and with more than 13 percent of our neighbors unemployed, we certainly do not need a government that will tax families out of their homes. It is high time that honest leaders in government, both Republican and Democrat, step forward to lead the people toward economic prosperity, not economic servitude.
I always welcome the thoughts and concerns of my constituents. Please feel free to contact my office at (614) 466-1731 or write to me at Representative Barbara Sears, 77 S. High Street, 10th Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215. You may also email me at District46@ohr.state.oh.us.
Has she been asleep for the past ten years? What was she teaching her sons when she supported the U.S. turning a $200 billion/year surplus into an average deficit of $500 billion/year over the past decade? Perhaps she should show leadership and let us know which of her constituents’ programs she would like to cut in order to balance the Ohio and federal budgets.
September 29th, 2009 at 10:21 amNice job Barbara. Well said! If only they had some common sense.
September 29th, 2009 at 10:29 amArmchair,
According to this website, this is her first term so I am not sure what you mean or what her involvement could have been with the 200 billion/ 500 billion numbers you talk about. I don’t think a Sylvania City Councel member had much to do with it but hopefully she can help rectify it.
http://www.house.state.oh.us/index.php?option=com_displaymembers&task=detail&district=46
September 29th, 2009 at 11:33 amDoug,
What I meant was where were her comments on the subject in the past? I know what her past offices have been. She has as much to do with federal spending now as an Ohio House member as she did as a Sylvania City Councilperson, so she could have released this ridiculous memo any time over the past decade. Where has her outrage been is my point.
Again, if she has such a problem with spending, she should show leadership and let us all know what should be cut to balance the budget.
Wouldn’t it be nice if elected persons offered specific solutions to the problems they complain about? Perhaps that’s a lesson she should be teaching her kids.
September 29th, 2009 at 12:10 pmREP SEARS, WELL PUT, BUT IT WAS YOUR PARTY THAT TURNED A 5.7 TRILLION DOLLAR SURPLUS INTO A 1.2 TRILLION DOLLAR DEBT, BECAUSE OF THINGS LIKE THE WAR THAT WE NEED NOT BE IN AND AN INCOMPEDENT GOVENOR LIKE BOBBY TAFT THAT LET THIS STATE GO TO HELL IN A HAND BASKET, AND YOUR PARTIES SUPPORT OF FREE TRADE. I AM A UNION DEMOCRAT AND HATE FREE TRADE.
September 29th, 2009 at 10:13 pmOne might well question why Rep. Sears has waited so long to speak out on the rampant over-spending going on in government, but at least she has taken a stand. How many others in Congress are doing so these days?
As for those who wish to establish blame for the current debt level, I believe that there is plenty to go around on both sides of the aisle.
The concern that all should have is the apparent lack of consideration currently going on in Congress in deficit spending. Not only is it driving government debt to new highs, but it sets this country up for inflation levels that it hasn’t seen since the late 70’s.
September 30th, 2009 at 5:44 amWhy does everyone associate Free Trade with just the Republicans and/or right? It was Clinton who signed NAFTA.
Does anyone believe that our current president/congress is reducing the debt right now?
September 30th, 2009 at 9:56 amYes, it was Clinton that approved NAFTA.
The president is greatly increasing the debt with no end in sight. He is not even trying to cut back. The government is growing by thousands and thousands of voters. Who needs Acorn when you can just hire the folks that will keep you in office.
September 30th, 2009 at 10:02 amYes, it was Clinton that approved NAFTA.
The president is greatly increasing the debt with no end in sight. He is not even trying to cut back. The government is growing by thousands and thousands of voters. Who needs Acorn when you can just hire the folks that will keep you in office.
September 30th, 2009 at 10:03 amNOT AGAIN…YOU NAILED IT… AND YES I AM STILL PISSED THAT CLINTON SIGNED NAFTA, YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I HATE FREE TRADE
September 30th, 2009 at 12:49 pm