Issue Position: Government Spending

Issue Position

Whenever I meet with Nebraskans, I receive a single, consistent message over and over again: Washington must cut out-of-control government spending. I agree, and the American people are right to expect more accountability from their government. But instead of cutting the debt, we have seen four straight years of trillion-dollar deficits and a national debt exceeding $17 trillion. And rather than cutting wasteful spending, the federal government has added $4 billion each day to our gross national debt. We all know this path is not sustainable.

I'm proud to have helped balance our state budget eight times as a member of the Nebraska Legislature by making tough decisions and setting priorities. Similarly, I support a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to force Congress and the president to cut federal spending. We must identify the national priorities worthy of taxpayer funding and I support a more limited government that focuses on these priorities by fulfilling its core duties and responsibilities.

Senator Fischer's accomplishments in cutting government spending include:

Introduced the Judgment Fund Transparency Act: This legislation offered by Senator Fischer would require the Treasury Department to post on a publicly accessible website the claimant, counsel, agency, fact summary, and payment amount for each claim from the Judgment Fund, unless a law or court order otherwise prohibits the disclosure of such information. Throughout the past seven years, Treasury has spent nearly $11 billion in Judgment Fund awards with scant oversight. http://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2013/8/fischer-grassley-crapo-introduce-judgment-fund-transparency-act

Original Cosponsor of the Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Senator Fischer supports a constitutional amendment to require a balanced budget. If ratified, total spending outlays could not exceed total revenue receipts, and spending would be capped at 18% of gross domestic product (GDP). In addition, the president would be required to submit a balanced federal budget proposal to Congress. Finally, the amendment would establish supermajority voting thresholds for Congress to raise taxes or to increase the debt ceiling. These provisions could be waived by a majority of each House of Congress during times of war.

Opposed Massive $1.1 Trillion Spending Bill: Senator Fischer voted against the continuing resolution, H.R. 933, in March 2013. The legislation was crafted behind closed doors and included a number of legislative gimmicks rather than meaningful spending cuts. It also funds the implementation of ObamaCare, which raises healthcare premiums and has already forced employers to cut back on hiring and reduce hours.

Opposed the Senate Budget, Trillion Dollar Tax Hike: Senator Fischer voted against the Senate's FY 2014 budget proposal, which would have increased government spending by 62 percent -- or $7.3 trillion -- over the next decade and raised taxes on Americans by $1.5 trillion. This was the first budget vote in the past four years under Senate Democrat leadership.

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