Biden's Budget Boondoggle
Friends,
"Socialist governments traditionally do make a financial mess."
These words by the late Margaret Thatcher seem to ring true time and time again. Yet too many Democrats in Washington are not listening.
Last week, the White House released its proposed nearly $6 trillion budget for next year. If enacted, it would push $73 trillion in new government spending and $58 trillion in taxes. What’s more, the reckless proposal would cause our debt to reach $45 trillion by 2032 – about $347,000 for your household. This proposal undermines the American people in favor of radical, far-left policies. Biden’s budget would worsen the already severe economic conditions facing you and your family.
As it stands today, the American economy is in dire straits as a result of Washington Democrats’ reckless spending. Our community continues to be hammered by inflation and price hikes on just about every consumer good and service. As of last week, baby food is up 8.4%, eggs 11%, and transportation services 6.4%, just to name a few. On top of this, paychecks have not kept up as real average hourly earnings decreased 2.6% compared to last year.
Gas prices have hit their highest rate in US history, averaging $4.20 per gallon nationally and $4 in North Carolina. This energy crisis began because of President Biden’s anti-American energy policies. Yet, instead of reversing course, the Left is doubling down.
Biden’s proposed budget would levy $45 billion in new taxes on domestic energy production — which means less production —while rejecting plans to resume the Keystone XL Pipeline and other new domestic oil and natural gas projects. The President’s solution instead is to tap our strategic petroleum reserves for the third time. Such short-sighted measures are counterproductive and frankly irresponsible.
If passed, the President’s budget would also implement other new and unnecessary tax burdens, adding an almost $1 trillion tax increase on American businesses, workers, and families. Would these new taxes generate one more barrel of oil, lower gas prices, or end inflation? No – just grow government, kill American jobs, and push forward a ‘woke’ agenda that Americans neither want nor need.
For example, this new budget continues to support Biden’s anti-life agenda by providing $400 million taxpayer dollars to organizations like Planned Parenthood. Additionally, it leaves out the Hyde Amendment, a commonsense measure that says your tax dollars can’t be used to pay for abortions.
This budget also neglects any meaningful steps to secure our border. Over 2.9 million illegal immigrants have been encountered at our border since Biden took office. Now experts are predicting this number will skyrocket after repealing Title 42, a measure that allows migrants to be immediately sent back to Mexico in the name of public health. Yet, Biden’s proposal fails to adequately address this issue. The budget mentions “border security” zero times and makes no effort to enforce the “Remain in Mexico” policy or the construction of a border wall. If anything, this budget detracts from our security by continuing Biden’s catch-and-release policy and actually cutting funding for Homeland Security and Immigration & Customs Enforcement.
The answer to the inflation, energy, and border crises we are facing should not be to double down on the factors that created these crises in the first place.
Instead, we must stop unnecessary government spending or, as President Reagan said, “check government spending, not spend government checks.” We must also lower costs for you and your family. This means taking concrete steps to address inflation and supply chain issues, as well as increasing our own production of oil and gas by passing my American Energy Independence from Russia Act. Furthermore, we must take steps to defend life at all stages and effectively secure our border.
I have focused on common sense solutions to address each of these areas since my first day in Congress and am determined to keep doing so because your future and our children’s future is too important.
Our veterans understand this more than anyone. That’s why last week, we honored a generation of veterans who did not get the thanks they deserved nearly five decades ago. Tuesday marked National Vietnam War Veteran’s Day, a time to honor and thank all who served our nation and their families during the Vietnam War.
While our country faces many challenges today, it’s important to remember the service of so many who have gone before us to advance our nation. We must never forget their sacrifices and continue working to improve the country they worked so hard to defend.
Until Next Week,
Richard Hudson
Member of Congress