Arthur from Torrance asks….would you introduce legislation that would force the government to abide strictly by the defined areas itemized in the Constitution?  Would you also likewise introduce legislation that does not allow the government to spend more than it takes in annually and within 6% over that annual amount exempting Security, Law Enforcement, the military.  Meaning there would be a spending cap on all other line items with an allowed bridge of 6%overspending.

In many areas we don’t need new legislation; we need to enforce what we already have.  I believe very strongly in the enumerated powers.  The federal government was given power (from the states/people) to do only a few very specific things.  The principles of limited government are simply not being followed by the 535 members of Congress.  It is up to an informed electorate to elect candidates who will not go to Washington to seek a career of living at the government trough, but to do their service, follow the constitution, and then go home and go back to work.  The American people have an opportunity this fall to elect such candidates who will strictly follow the Constitution and if our Union is to survive, this is what we must do. 

I think my budget policy may be more effective than having a specific spending cap.  First, we must follow the principles of a balanced budget.  My solution would not be to have caps on increases to the existing budget, but to change the budget paradigm.  I believe we should first, eliminate all departments and programs not included in the enumerated powers.  I.e. the Department of Education should be abolished.  Then with what is left, we start each budget process with a $0 budget.  We must stop the ridiculous policy of hurrying up to spend what’s left at the end of the fiscal year so we “get more next year”.  We must look at each department and program and decide if we actually need the program at all and do we really need to spend as much as we do for each program.  Line by line, program by program, department by department we must evaluate how each dollar is spent.  If it is not absolutely necessary we don’t spend the money.  We don’t look at an item in the context of is that a “nice idea”, but do we really need it.  This approach would more effectively change the way budgets are created then have a cap that allows the continued growth of the federal budget and resulting deficits.