Indy Star - Balanced Federal Budget Remains Priority

Op-Ed

by U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita

Hoosiers sent me to Congress to serve and fight for all Americans so that they can build better lives for themselves and their families. Central to that mission is controlling our runaway government that, because of out-of-control spending, has amassed an $18 trillion national debt, with another $100 trillion just over the horizon awaiting the next generation. That is why, as vice chairman of the House Budget Committee, implementing a balanced budget remains my highest priority. It's only when a budget balances that we may begin to unburden future generations from the debt we are leaving them.

I have now helped write five balanced budgets all of which were passed by the House. Four of those budgets fell on deaf ears in a Senate controlled by Harry Reid -- the same Senate that chose not to produce a budget at all for three consecutive years.

I am pleased to report that we are beginning to break through that dysfunction. Earlier this year, both the House and Senate passed individual budget resolutions that balance in 10 years, save trillions of hard-earned taxpayer dollars, repeal Obamacare, and provide for national defense -- all without increasing taxes. And for the first time since 2001 (much too long ago), we are poised to pass a balanced, joint budget resolution.

As one of five House budget negotiators, I was pleased to work with our Senate counterparts on a joint conference committee to hammer out an agreement, the first time in nearly three decades that a Hoosier has been represented on that kind of working group.

This budget starts the process of reducing the $57,000 debt each resident owes the federal government. Even our children and grandchildren incur this debt, which is the most immoral of all the consequences of our out-of-control government spending. The budget reflects the commitment of Congress to keep America safe through a strong national defense by providing immediate increases in funding for our military men and women as well as more robust resources for troop training, equipment and compensation.

This joint budget resolution is the beginning, not the end, of a larger opportunity to lead our country forward and restore some fiscal sanity to the federal government.

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