Huelskamp wants budget fixed

Huelskamp wants budget fixed
By Mike Corn
Hays Daily News
March 24, 2011

Rather than spreading the Washington message, U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kan., wanted to know what the almost 25 people attending Wednesday’s town hall meeting would do if they occupied a seat in the U.S. House.

One of the questions he asked was if people would vote to increase the federal debt limit.

He got an emphatic “no” from several of the people at the Robins Center at Fort Hays State University.
But when asked what he will do when that vote eventually comes up, the answer was a bit more detailed, and encompassed a requirement that the measure include a provision requiring balancing the federal budget.

He’s not expecting that to happen. When pressed, Huelskamp said he wouldn’t vote to increase the debt limit.

“That’s the plan today,” Huelskamp said.

He also said it appears the House has voted for its last continuing resolution to keep the federal government in money and operating.

“It seems like it,” he said.

The federal budget was at the center of the hour-long conversation between Huelskamp and the 25 people who turned out. Many of those attending discussed conservative values, going so far as to mention listening to conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh or if there’s been an audit to determine if there’s enough gold in storage to support the nation’s money system.

Huelskamp sidestepped the gold-standard question, suggesting the country has moved past that question.

He didn’t, however, shy away from talking about the $14.3 trillion deficit that hovers over the nation.
In fact, he brought out a number of color posters to show the growth — past and future — of the federal deficit.

He even talked about who owns that debt. One of the placards showed in 1970, only 5 percent of the nation’s debt was owned by foreigners.

Today, that’s closer to 50 percent, he said, and about 30 percent of it is owned by investors in China.
“The number that is so big to me is out of every dollar we spend in Washington, 42 cents is borrowed,” he said.

Huelskamp told of how it’s been a struggle to get a budget for the current fiscal year, approving instead a series of continuing resolutions to keep the doors open.

“In two to three weeks, we’ll work on next year’s budget,” he said.

As he sought input, he was told one of the first things that should be gotten rid of is the Obama-endorsed health care program.

Huelskamp noted Wednesday was the one-year anniversary of its passage.

“I would work to reduce the debt,” another woman said.

Another member of the audience voiced concern about the lackluster job market, which forced her out of work.

“I still don’t have a job,” she said. “This is scary. I’m 60 years old. I’m wondering if I’ll have a job when I’m 65.”

“I’m scared about the job situation too,” Huelskamp said, adding his role should be to foster job development.