Op-Eds

Congress has an opportunity this week to make a historic decision that would permanently change the culture of spending in Washington. Our nearly $15 trillion of accumulated debt is a threat to our nation’s economic recovery, our national security and the welfare of future generations.

We have already succeeded in changing the debate in Washington from “How much can we spend?” to “How much can we cut?” Now, we must go even further and pass a Balanced Budget Amendment.

Every child born today already owes more than $46,000 to our government’s creditors. We cannot continue to recklessly spend today so that our children and grandchildren can pick-up the bill tomorrow.

A constitutional mandate to pass a balanced budget every year would force Congress to spend only what it takes in. No more borrowing from China and no more taxing future generations, just common-sense fiscal policy to permanently change the culture of spending in Washington.

Balancing the budget is not a novel idea. Forty-nine states already have some form of a balanced budget requirement, as do families and businesses in Kentucky. It’s time that the federal government does too.