Hartzler: We don't need a balanced approach; we need a balanced budget

In her weekly newsletter, Fourth District Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler says it is time for a Balanced Budget Amendment.

It’s been a very busy week on Capitol Hill as the House and Senate try to reach agreement on legislation to deal with the debt limit crisis that President Obama has told us could lead to national default as early as August 2nd. Even though many economists question the President’s claim, representatives of the people in the U.S. House have carefully crafted a realistic solution to our problem.

We approved a two-step approach that prevents our country from defaulting on its loans, controls reckless government spending, and requires passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution before the debt ceiling could be raised again. This key component of the package will require your federal government to live within its means.

Once the Balanced Budget Amendment is passed it would be sent to the states for ratification. There is so much talk in Washington of the need for a “balanced approach” to our budget situation. America does not need a “balanced approach;” it needs a “balanced budget!” I worked with House leaders to strengthen the original bill and to have this measure included in the final version. I have said many times that American families must live within their means and the federal government must learn to do the same and only agreed to support this final version after the leadership agreed to include this vital provision I was advocating for.

The plan passed by the House begins the task of controlling spending by cutting $22 billion in the 2012 fiscal year – and does this without any increase in taxes. If you have talked to me you know I am always ready to share the fact that Washington is in debt because it has a spending problem, not a taxing problem. The American people have had enough with runaway spending and a lack of accountability. Those days must come to an end to secure our country’s economic freedom.

Americans are concerned about their jobs, rising costs, and our fragile economy. It is time to put people above politics. The House has passed a responsible bill that puts the government on the path to spending discipline. It is an important step on the road to changing the way Washington works – changing a broken system of spending. Reforms are needed and they are needed now.

The debate continues and moves onto the Senate. It is imperative the Senate and White House agree with the common-sense solutions of controlling spending and putting us on a path to fiscal sanity. Keep watching. Time is of the essence for America and for future generations.

As we discussed and debated the debt situation this week we received some disappointing economic news. Commerce Department figures released Friday show the economy expanded at a rate of just 1.3 percent annual rate in the spring. Many economists say this means the economy will grow at a weaker pace the rest of the year and are saying this does not bode well for the unemployment rate which was pegged at 9.2 percent last month. This is yet another indication that our country is headed in the wrong direction. Out-of-control government spending and uncertainty over future tax rates harm the ability of job creators to make decisions that put out-of-work Americans back to work and strengthen the economy. The stimulus package and other unsuccessful ideas have clearly not worked. It’s time to take America out of its economic doldrums and put it on the right path. No more budget tricks. No more accounting gimmicks. No more empty promises!

Stay tuned as this fight to bring about responsibility in Washington continues in the days and weeks ahead.