Tea Party Patriots Action strongly opposes the budget-busting Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019

tppa-statement

On behalf of the three million members and supporters of Tea Party Patriots Action, we strongly oppose H.R. 3877, the budget-busting Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019, and we urge all members of the House and Senate to vote AGAINST the bill.

Eight years ago this summer, Congress enacted the Budget Control Act of 2011. That law – passed by a Republican House and a Democrat Senate, with a Democrat in the White House, at a time when the economy was not doing nearly as well as it is now – laid out topline spending limits for the next ten years. Virtually all of today’s congressional leadership voted for that law and for the spending limits contained therein. Yet today, they all act as if those spending limits were imposed on them by aliens from outer space. The thought of reducing spending to no more than the limits laid out in law eight years is so terrifying, so unappealing politically, that it apparently makes no difference if they are Republicans or Democrats, or even liberals or conservatives – all but those with the strongest backbones and the clearest minds are determined to avoid spending reductions, and believe instead that a $326 billion addition to the national debt (which will no doubt swell to $2 trillion when added to the budget baseline over the next decade) is preferable.

We understand the laws of economics, and the laws of politics. When the economy is in recession, deficit spending is more likely – tax revenues flowing to the government are reduced, while spending on social welfare programs is increased. Clearly, that dynamic makes balancing the budget and avoiding deficit spending a tougher job. But when the economy is roaring, the reverse is true – tax revenue flow to the government is increased, while spending on social programs is not required to be as high. When the economy is roaring, balancing the budget should be, relatively speaking, easier.

Yet this Congress apparently believes the laws of economics can be repealed. Despite record-level revenue to the federal government, despite the hottest economy on the planet, not only can it not balance its books, with this deal, it will add an additional $326 billion in deficit spending.

If Washington will not act to reduce spending when the economy is roaring, when will it, if ever?

Please call your Congressman to urge a vote against H.R. 3877, the budget-busting Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019.