Cut, Cap, and Balance

Today, I announced my support of the House's Cut, Cap, and Balance Act. Several people have asked me why I have not also signed the Cut, Cap, and Balance Pledge. I hope that this post clarifies my position while demonstrating how serious I take my commitments.

While I am largely in agreement with the Pledge, I am concerned that the requirement for a super-majority to raise taxes is, intentional or not, an unnecessary "poison pill" that will doom the Amendment and bill. Conceptually, I like the idea of making it more difficult to raise taxes; but a Constitutional Amendment requires a 2/3rds majority in each house of Congress along with approval of 3/4ths of the state legislatures. I am concerned that the super-majority requirement will be the excuse that many congressmen and legislators will use to vote no.

Ultimately, we must ask ourselves, is it better to have a balanced budget with a chance of higher taxes or a collapsed economy? I am willing to fight the tax issue at a later date. We must make real spending cuts immediately if we are to avoid financial collapse and for decades our Congress has demonstrated that they are unwilling to balance the budget on their own.

Because I am willing to support an amendment with or without super-majority requirement, I am unable to sign the Pledge with its current wording, but I am happy to support the bill introduced in the House.

In short, the pledge that I make to the 11th District is as follows (with red-line edits from the Cut, Cap, and Balance Pledge):

I pledge to oppose any debt limit increase unless all three of the following conditions have been met:

1. 1. Cut - Substantial cuts in spending that will reduce the deficit next year and thereafter. 
2. 
   
3. 2. Cap - Enforceable spending caps that will put federal spending on a path to a balanced budget.
4. 
   
5. 3. Balance - Congressional passage a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution - but only if it includes both a spending limitation and a super-majority for raising taxes, in addition to balancing revenues and expenses.
6.