Federal Budget

The federal government should not be allowed to enact laws that require the spending of taxpayer’s dollars unless its purpose is specifically stated in the U.S. Constitution. The following forms of spending should be eliminated: military force without official declaration of war, foreign aid, funding to world organizations such as the U.N., the Department of Education, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Center For Disease Control, educational grants, the FDA, FEMA, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, the Department of Energy, the redundant Department of Homeland Security, and all subsidies.

Whenever possible, government services should funded by user fees, rather than taxes.

All federal spending should be periodically reviewed every five years for effectiveness and waste. Each appropriations bill should consist of only one item. A separate vote in Congress should be required for renewal of each individual spending measure every five years. Every department and every government agency should be audited annually. I agree with President Bush’s proposal for the creation of a Sunset Commission.



The national debt is an issue of great concern, which is largely ignored by the two major parties. The budget deficits should not be allowed to occur. There should only be so much that the Congress can spend, after that, any further spending should be illegal. I favor a balanced budget amendment. The actual federal debt should be reported not just the “on budget” debt. The Congress should not be allowed to commit to future spending without already having the funds to spend it, except for national security. The government should not write any blank checks--all spending should be required to be definite. Congress should not authorize spending for a war unless war has been officially declared. Most federal lands and property should be sold to pay down the national debt. The priorities of the budget should be first national defense, then reducing the national debt, then reducing taxes. Some of the National Debt should be declared null and void. (Read my Money and Banking section.)