SENATE REJECTS EFFORT TO ATTACK BIGGEST NATIONAL SECURITY RISK

The Senate rejected an effort by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) to place an across-the-board spending cut in a domestic funding package being debated by lawmakers.  Senators voted 24-67 on the amendment from Paul, which would reduce spending by 2 percent compared to fiscal 2019 levels.  This would be two cents for every dollar spent.  If all we did was to eliminate duplication of agencies, reduce waste, eliminate pork, and do zero based budgeting, the two cents reduction could probably be doubled.  Yes, it would take some effort, not a great deal of effort, but it would also take time from the irrational efforts to overturn the people’s will and to oppose any good ideas because they were initiated by the opposite party.
 
Marxist/Progressive Leahy of Vermont said, "His amendment will slash spending below the bipartisan budget act that we all negotiated.”  Well, Leahy, perhaps that amendment should be reviewed in the name of national security.  After all, it has long been recognized that the runaway deficit that the bipartisan budget act greatly enhances threatens our national security. 
 
“National security experts have long warned us that our massive debt is one of our biggest national security threats. With U.S. debt recently surpassing $22 trillion, soon we will spend more paying down interest on our debt than on national defense. I do not accept the standard Washington presumption that nothing in the budget can be cut in order to fund important priorities without increasing the deficit. Hardworking taxpayers make tough spending decisions to stay within their budget and expect their representatives in government will do the same.” – Congressman Daniel Webster (FL-11)
 
“We introduced this resolution because the United States is racing towards a fiscal cliff. Congress is taking few measures to solve this problem, and it is beyond time for our colleagues in both chambers to become serious about balancing the nation’s budget and recognize this issue as a threat to our national security.
 
“America has a spending problem, not a revenue problem. While the United States is producing record federal revenue, Congress has failed to pass balanced budgets. If we do not change our course, we will be responsible for one of the worse catastrophes this nation has ever experienced: the crash of the American economy and the demise of a superpower. I thank Senator Perdue and my colleagues for their leadership on this issue.” – Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05)
 
“The single greatest threat to our national security is our national debt, and it’s time Washington comes to grips with that reality. This month, our national debt topped $22 trillion. This news should have sounded alarms throughout Washington, but bureaucrats and career politicians didn’t even blink an eye. Ultimately, the debt impacts our ability to fund priorities, like providing our men and women in uniform with the resources they need to protect Americans. This debt crisis will only get worse, and if we don’t act now, our country will lose the ability to do the right thing.” – Senator David Perdue (R-Georgia)
 
“The $22 trillion national debt is crippling our country. In a few short years, interest payments on our debt will outpace all defense spending. That is a stark and sobering statistic which lays bare the real national security threat our debt crisis is creating.” – Congressman Kelly Armstrong (ND-At Large)
 
“Throughout my time in Congress, I’ve voted for responsible budgets that prioritize necessary spending, eliminate waste and end programs inappropriate for federal government expenditures. Unfortunately, even as our national debt and its threat to future generations have ballooned, too few in Washington are willing to take tough votes necessary to curb spending and protect our solvency. It is important we recognize the threat associated with a $22 trillion – and growing – national debt. While it is doubtful Democrats allow a spending bill addressing this issue to move forward, I will continue advocating for responsible spending of taxpayer funds for as long as I am in Washington.” – Congressman Brian Babin (TX-36)
 
“At a staggering $22 trillion, the national debt is suffocating Americans. While we can’t undo our past, we can work toward a better future, especially for the millions of young Americans who will bear the burden of this growing debt in their sunset years. It’s time we find responsible solutions that curb government waste of taxpayers’ dollars contributing to the national debt.” – Congressman Troy Balderson (OH-12)
 
YET NOTHING IS DONE AND RAND PAUL’S EFFORTS ARE REJECTED AND ROUNDLY CRITICIZED.