Americans are struggling with a slowing economy, a housing market in crisis, and energy prices at all-time highs. We need a national economic policy that will re-energize our economy and create jobs. We need a tax policy aimed at providing relief to working families who need it, opportunities for business development and growth, and support for innovation, research and development.

Leading economic indicators and experts are predicting a continued downturn, or possibly even recession. Washington must be ready to move aggressively to bolster the economy and help working families. Any stimulus package considered should be timely, temporary and targeted.

Nebraska plays a pivotal role in our nation and world as a state with a strong agricultural foundation. Not only do we provide Americans with outstanding beef, corn, dry beans and other agricultural products, we are on the cutting edge of ethanol production and the production of other renewable energies.

Having called Columbus home for more than 25 years, I have an up-close perspective regarding the issues facing our rural communities.

I’m proud of the role Behlen Mfg. Co., has had in partnering with Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers. Like many producers in Nebraska, our company faced tough times through the years. Together, we have found solutions to bring innovation and common sense approaches to overcome these challenges.

In Washington, fiscal discipline has been thrown out the window and our budget process is broken. We face a debt of $9 trillion – more than $29,000 for every man, woman and child in the United States. We’ve gone from a projected surplus of nearly $6 trillion to a $9.3 trillion debt, and more on the way.

Today, we’re seeing the results of an economic philosophy that ignores the middle class, encourages debt and lacks restraint.

Like any working family, our government should live within its means. I support pay-as-you-go budgeting rules, that make sure new spending and new tax cuts are paid for. We should not be expanding our debt; we should be paying it down.

It’s irresponsible to pass along this debt to our children and future generations. This is a shameful legacy for the federal government and it jeopardizes the nation’s ability to meet future challenges by overextending the country now. We should be responsible and meet our own challenges, not pass them on to our children and grandchildren.

Nebraska has a proud tradition of supporting our troops and providing our nation with some of our best and brightest to protect us. The troops on the ground in Iraq are doing a tremendous job. We are proud of their tireless service and honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

Our troops deserve our respect. In order to respect them and their service fully, we need to continue to have a serious discussion regarding the direction of this war.

There is no doubt that the problems facing our nation’s health care system pose a serious threat to our families and our leadership position in the world. Skyrocketing costs are eroding worker’s coverage and paychecks. Sixteen percent of Americans have no coverage at all – a problem that has worsened in the last five years. We reward clinics and hospitals not by the quality of care they provide, but by the number of patients they treat.

Government must play a role in fixing these problems; taking action in the public’s interest without taking over control of the system.