Ruestman: A Federal Balanced Budget

Our futures are at stake, along with many future generations!  As far as I'm concerned there is only one option.  We have to get our budget back on track.  Last year, when the Missouri House Majority heard we were receiving funds from the bailout we wanted to send it back.  We then learned that if we sent it back it would be sent to other states.  Knowing that this was Missouri tax dollars, we agreed to accept it, feeling it was better to spend our tax dollars here.  It was then determined that our constituents should get the money back in the form of a rebate.  However, we were told that doing so would be illegal because that is not how the bailout was intended to be spent.

Last week, in a bipartisan effort, the Missouri House passed House Concurrent Resolutions 34 and 35 asking Congress to balance the national budget.  The House of Representatives passed this with a vote of 121 to 28 while the Senate passed its version [SCR36] by 28 to 1.  This is Missouri's official way of telling our federal government we are fed up with the spending and deficits.  These resolutions have the potential of becoming an amendment to the U.S. Constitution if ratified by 38 states.

Our federal fiscal policy (if you can call it that) is out of control.  The national budget is 40% out of balance and the liberal majority just voted to raise the debt ceiling another $1.9 trillion.  You and I know that we cannot operate our households like this, we cannot operate our small businesses like this and we don't operate our state like this.  I'm always happy to remind you that Missouri is one of the top 7 states with an AAA bond rating.  Over the eight years I've been in the legislature the Republicans have held the line on debt and balanced our budget.  Missourians are justified in demanding their national government stop this irresponsible behavior.  It is bad for our security and economy.

It is interesting to note that while the General Assembly was debating these resolutions, Senator McCaskill didn't hear the message we were trying to send her and her colleagues.  She publicly criticized the state saying we shouldn't complain about federal bailout dollars.  I'm insulted when our elected officials give us back our own tax dollars (and the money they plan to take in the future) and call it a "stimulus".  Then, they complain because we don't say "thank you" loud enough.  Perhaps the Senator should be reminded that after receiving the bailout money Missouri lost 62,600 jobs and the unemployment rate has settled at 9.6%.  This bailout has not worked.

In Missouri we voted overwhelmingly to tell Washington the spending spree is over.   Let us invest our own money.  It's time we turn things around!

If you have problems, questions or wish to express concern over an issue, please do not hesitate to contact me or my Legislator Assistant, Jonathan, at my Capitol office either by phone 573-751-9801 or by e-mail at Marilyn{dot}Ruestman{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov.