Here are some of the highlights of what has been happening in the Senate this week.

President’s speech

The President spoke this week about the need to reduce our annual deficit, which is now approaching $1.7 trillion. While it is encouraging to see the President participate in the deficit debate after so much silence from the Administration, it is disappointing that he continues to ignore the destructive, burdensome long-term costs of entitlements and reversed his position on increasing taxes on the American people.

Republicans in Congress have submitted dozens of ideas to reduce our deficit, balance our budget, restrain spending, and create jobs.  Many of us stand willing to work with the President and together make the difficult choices to put the country on a fiscally responsible path. 

 

Budget Agreement

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) came to an agreement on the 2011 fiscal year budget. While I applaud the provisions that include a vote on repealing ObamaCare and Planned Parenthood funding, as well as substantive spending cuts, I withheld my support because the plan did not go far enough and did not include a structural spending restraint, like a balanced budget provision.

The refusal of the Democratic Party to take our nation’s financial problems seriously is proof that the message from the 2010 election fell on deaf ears. Congress must support a budget that includes a plan to restrain log-term spending.

 

Vote to defund Obamacare and Planned Parenthood

 The budget agreed upon by Senate Majority Leader Reid and Speaker Boehner included a provision requiring a debate and a vote on two measures that would block any federal funds from being used this year for Planned Parenthood or Obamacare. I voted in support of cutting funding for the two programs, but they regretfully fell short of passage. 

I am disappointed that my Democratic colleagues are refusing to take a serious look at the severity of our nation’s economic situation and are continuing to support government programs that are contributing to our ever-increasing debt. I will continue work towards seeing these programs cut from future budget proposals.

 

Debt Ceiling

The debt ceiling debate is heating up in Washington, and I stand firm in my call to pass a balanced budget amendment before voting on any attempt to increase our national debt.   

 

Social Security Reform

I joined my colleagues Senators Paul (R-KY) and Graham (R-LA) in sponsoring legislation to reform our nation’s Social Security program. Social Security Solvency and Sustainability Act will reduce $6.2 trillion of the nation’s debt over the next 75 years and create a solvent and sustainable Social Security system that will be able to provide the benefits it promises to future generations without raising taxes. 

This legislation is a step in the right direction towards solving our nation’s debt crisis, but it is only a piece of the puzzle. These ideas should be part of the larger debate over entitlement reform that we will have in the coming months.  For those who might oppose these solutions, I look forward to hearing their ideas to make Social Security solvent and sustainable as the discussion goes forward.

 

Letter on Libya

My colleague Senator Paul (R-KY) and I sent a letter to Leaders Reid (D-NV) and McConnell (R-KY) calling for a debate over whether or not the President had the authority to conduct military operations tantamount to war in Libya.  We feel strongly that the President failed to seek proper authorization from Congress, violating the separation of powers. The U.S. has no national security interest in Libya, and a clear military objective for our continued involvement has yet to be presented by the Administration. I requested answers from the administration regarding what authority they are acting under to justify sending Americans into a military conflict with no imminent threat to national security.