Budget

On every issue our nation faces, it is our responsibility to ensure that the policies we pursue are consistent with the values we cherish.  The Bush Administration's Fiscal Year 2006 budget fails to do so in every respect.  The President's Budget adds trillions to the deficit over the next 10 years and slashes funding for key homeland security programs, veterans benefits, health care and education programs.  The Bush Administration's failure to include details about the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the cost it will take to rebuild the Gulf is unconscionable - and a clear failure of leadership.  These fiscally reckless policies have turned a $5.6 trillion surplus created by President Bill Clinton into more than $4 trillion in deficits over the next 10 years.

Even Alan Greenspan, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors has said, "There is no question that if you run substantial and excessive deficits over time.you do clearly undercut the growth rate of the economy."  Every time the Bush Administration limits the growth of our nation with deficits, they deny our nation its potential, undercut our superpower status and hurt our children's futures.  Japan and China are the two countries holding most of our debt.  How can we claim we are safer today than we were before this President took office when we are now beholden to countries that do not have our best interests in mind?

The increasing deficit is imposing an ever-growing "debt tax" on Americans.  It is worse than a tax because we are not getting anything new for it, and it can never be repealed! Instead, we are just paying down the government's "credit card bill."  Right now every American - man, woman and child - owes about Failed to execute CGI : Win32 Error Code = 2
to pay down their portion of the debt.  That figure will only rise as the Bush Administration and Republicans in Congress spend more and continue to mismanage the national budget.  By 2015, American families will pay an extra $10,786 in interest alone on the national debt.

I am fighting to restore fiscal responsibility and to hold those in power accountable for their actions.  I am committed to upholding the key values that are the foundation of a strong, prosperous and secure America: national security, community, fairness, accountability and opportunity.

Currently, the U.S. Debt is estimated at: Failed to execute CGI : Win32 Error Code = 2