Congressman Tim Huelskamp

There is something unique about a Washington apple. 

In the produce section at the grocery store, you pick up an apple and look at the outside for quality.  Sometimes, though, an apple that looks good on the outside has worms on the inside. Despite all of America’s goodness, apples from Washington, D.C. have worms destroying the core of the country: out-of-control spending and debt.

Between now and the end of May, Congress will have to act on three important measures to kill these worms once and for all: last year’s budget (through a continuing resolution); next year’s budget; and the debt ceiling. Let’s think about these as three bites into the apple. 

The first bite: the 2011 budget.  Despite the fact that there has been a deadline since 1974 requiring Congress and President Obama to finish the budget by September 30, here America stands – more than six months later – facing a possible government slowdown because there is no budget. The failure of the last Congress to pass a budget for 2011 is surprising and disappointing given that Democrats controlled both chambers of Congress as well as the White House. It should have been smooth sailing to pass and sign a budget into law. 

Instead, the federal government has relied six short-term spending measures to keep the lights on.  In February, just a few short weeks after the 112th Congress took office, the House passed H.R. 1, a measure to get us through the rest of 2011.  Unfortunately, Senate Majority Leader Reid refuses to allow the Senate even to debate and amend the proposal.  The money runs out on April 8, and Senate Majority Leader Reid is still dragging his feet over a $30 billion difference in spending cuts. It’s perplexing why $30 billion is his concern when the country’s debt hovers around $14.3 trillion and we are in the third straight year of trillion-dollar deficits.

The second bite: the 2012 budget. The House faces an April 15, 2011 deadline to produce a budget outline for next year.  The President offered his budget for the House to consider in February. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) assessed the economic impact of President’s budget and it just adds to the country’s debt, ensures trillion-dollar deficits, increases taxes, and fails to reduce spending. 

The Republicans will offer a 2012 budget this week that is an alternative to the President’s budget: a clear path to prosperity. In addressing the drivers of the country’s debt as well as out-of-control spending, the Republican budget seeks to foster economic growth and job creation; repeal and defund Obamacare; and to ensure health and retirement security in a fiscally-responsible manner.  Throughout this week, the House Budget Committee – of which I am a member – will be releasing the details of our budget. 

The third bite: the debt ceiling. Sometime between now and the end of May, the federal government will likely reach its debt limit.  There will be no more credit available.  So, President Obama is begging Congress to raise the limit on our credit card.  And, if passed, this would be the eleventh such increase since June 2002 (when it was set at $6.4 trillion). Our debt limit now is $14.294 trillion, more than double the 2002 limit.  The only way Congress can justify an increase in the debt limit is with guaranteed and substantial spending cuts and/or a balanced budget amendment.

For the sake of Americans footing tax bills now and in the future, as well as the economic prosperity of our nation, let’s hope that these three bites do not encounter the spending and debt worms that threaten to spoil our nation.