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.