Letter from Congressman Dan Lungren

In a government like ours where it takes three – the House, Senate, and President – to enact laws, it oftentimes takes compromise to avoid stalemate.  As someone who wants to see Congress be productive, effective and work for the people, I am ready to work in good faith toward solutions to our nation’s problems. 
The deal to raise the debt ceiling and reduce spending is not perfect.  There are people who believe it goes too far and some who believe it does not go far enough.  Importantly, the bill cuts more in spending than it raises in borrowing authority and does not raise taxes. 

There is more work to be done.  Our nation’s fiscal problems are larger than one vote or one fiscal year can solve.  This is like a heavy weight championship fight of 12 rounds.  We just completed the first round and the American people are ahead on points, but we still have a long way to go.  That’s why we ensured that this bill would provide the best chance in a very long time for a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution.  A Balanced Budget Amendment would set the kind of fiscal boundary Congress seriously needs.  If American families and most state governments have to balance their budgets there is no reason why the U.S. government should not have to do the same.
It may seem incremental, but just think: in January of this year, the President requested a “clean” debt increase, without any spending reductions.  In February of this year, the President crafted a budget, rejected 97-0 in the Senate, which would have added $83 billion to the deficit in 2012 alone and would have caused the debt to grow to 87 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) within 10 years.*  In July of this year, the President and Senate demanded increased taxes on those making $200,000 annually, including the small businesses that file as individuals. 
However, instead of more of the same, Washington – for the first time in my memory – rejected the temptation to grow government and fought back against the idea that government is the solution to our nation’s problems.  Rather, we have set a new precedent which future Congresses and Presidents will be obligated to follow – to reduce spending by greater levels than borrowing.  And with the public’s ongoing demands to do more to rein in spending and get our country on strong fiscal footing, the onus is on Washington to spend more efficiently and effectively. 
Sincerely,
Daniel E. Lungren
Member of Congress