Is All Of This Federal Spending Really Necessary?

The following is an Op-Ed column by Congressman Robert Aderholt (R, AL-4).

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The economy has dominated the conversation of almost every American and every politician in Washington and Alabama this year. The debate on solutions for our current recession has reached a whole new level as Republicans, Democrats and Independents argued their fundamental differences between how to meet our economic challenges.

In his first speech to a joint session of Congress, and ultimately the nation, President Obama talked at great length about our economy and the state that it is in. The President kept a very optimistic tone, asserting that “we will rebuild, we will recover”, and the ” United States of America will emerge stronger than before.”

Congressman Robert Aderholt (R, AL-4)

I am very pleased that President Obama expressed concern about our financial downturn and reducing the enormous federal deficit, and I remain ready to work with Republican and Democrat House Leadership and the President on ways to provide relief to our economy.

However, with the budget deficit likely approaching two trillion dollars, I am deeply discouraged about the recent spending bills that the House Democratic Leadership have supported. The House of Representatives passed a $787 billion borrow-and-spend stimulus package a couple of weeks ago and then another $410 billion appropriations omnibus bill last week through a secretive process that did not allow accountability. This is a spending path that is simply not sustainable.

The fact of the matter is that Congress needs to go line-by-line through the federal budget in order to eliminate wasteful and ineffective programs.

Many projects are worthwhile and important for economic development, as well as for the health and safety of Americans. However, far too many projects are not good investments of American taxpayer dollars.

Even the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office projected 2 weeks ago that the budget deficit would be about $1.4 trillion in FY2009 and $8.7 trillion in 10 years if the recently enacted $787 billion stimulus is taken into account with the policy agenda of the White House FY2010 Budget.

From the economy to health care to our energy policy, the road ahead is difficult. No challenge is impossible when we work together for positive solutions, but the President and the Democratic Leadership must recognize that demanding higher taxes and more government involvement are not the solutions Americans seek.

Historically, the hard-working American people, private industry and business have grown our economy, not the federal government. Empowering the American people, in my opinion, is how we should address this recession, not excessive federal spending. That is where the real solution is found!