Press Releases

(Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN-08) released the following statement after voting in favor of a Balanced Budget Amendment (H.J. Res 2) to the Constitution:

“Every day, American families have to make tough decisions about their spending priorities in order to balance the family budget.  Unfortunately, Washington isn’t doing the same when it comes to the federal budget.  For far too long, Washington has spent money it doesn’t have, resulting in a national debt that now exceeds $21 trillion – which, on average, is over $166,000 per American household.” 

 “Our nation is headed for a spending-driven debt crisis, and the main driver of Washington’s overspending is the auto-pilot spending on our nation’s mandatory spending programs which now account for approximately two-thirds of all federal spending. The debt and deficit problem is not due to discretionary program funding. Left unchecked, within the next 20 years our major mandatory spending programs will consume all projected federal revenue.  This would mean that funding for our nation’s military, border security, and other important federal priorities would have to be borrowed.  Not only is this unwise and unsustainable, but it will bury our children and grandchildren under a mountain of debt that they cannot repay and leave them with a downsized version of the American dream.”      

“It is beyond time to cut up the nation’s credit card and force Washington to live within its means – and the only way to do that is by enshrining a balanced budget amendment in the Constitution.  While this measure did not receive the two-thirds vote that is mandated by the Constitution, today’s vote was important as it shows the members of the House who are willing to put in place the necessary limitations to force Congress to get serious about addressing the true drivers of our nation’s debt.”