President Trump recently announced that he had reached a deal with bipartisan congressional leadership, but as America’s over $22 trillion national debt continues to climb at breakneck speed, fiscal conservatives are publicly opposing the deal that would exacerbate the problem.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) delivered a stinging indictment of the deal on Wednesday morning. Asserting that it “violates every principle of conservatism,” he affirmed the frustrations felt by so many exasperated conservative voters each time Republican leaders fail to fight for conservative values:
The proposed budget deal violates every principle of conservatism. The deal allows unlimited borrowing until after the next election and eliminates the spending caps. Every conservative in America should respond in outrage: “Why did we even bother to elect Republicans.” pic.twitter.com/hwojxDed0s
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) July 24, 2019
The House Freedom Caucus officially registered its opposition on Tuesday and suggested that Congress should craft a better budget even if that means canceling the upcoming recess to do so. “The House Freedom Caucus took an official position on Tuesday night, opposing the budget agreement to lift the spending caps adding $323 billion in new spending without sufficient offsets,” the press release states. “All sides should go back to the drawing board and work around the clock, canceling recess if necessary, on a responsible budget agreement that serves American taxpayers better—not a $323 billion spending frenzy with no serious offsets.”
The Freedom Caucus took an official position OPPOSING the budget agreement.
— House Freedom Caucus (@freedomcaucus) July 24, 2019
Our country is rapidly approaching $23 trillion in debt. We should be negotiating a responsible budget that serves taxpayers better—not raising spending by $323 billion with no serious offsets.
America is on an unsustainable fiscal path. At $22 trillion in debt, we must find ways to cut spending – not add to it. Raising the debt ceiling for two years with no caps, allowing massive spending increases, and providing no serious offsets is unacceptable.
— Rep. Jody Hice (@CongressmanHice) July 24, 2019
Time to try again. https://t.co/OJXH14FCf0
Rep. Mark Green (R-TN) analogized the situation to a spendthrift seeking a loan:
Year after year goes by, but he never changes his lifestyle. Debt piles up. Now he’s worried about missing payments on his bills. So he looks for another loan.
— Rep. Mark Green (@RepMarkGreen) July 23, 2019
A normal bank would never loan this person more money. Would you? (2/3)
In this case, the bank is the American taxpayer. And the taxpayer is represented by Congress. And leaders in Congress are poised to loan this guy (the federal government) more money, rather than instruct him to adjust his lifestyle. (3/3)
— Rep. Mark Green (@RepMarkGreen) July 23, 2019
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) has also gone on record against the deal, issuing a statement on Tuesday. President Trump, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) have all backed the deal. President Trump continued to tout the deal on Tuesday evening:
Budget Deal gives great victories to our Military and Vets, keeps out Democrat poison pill riders. Republicans and Democrats in Congress need to act ASAP and support this deal.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 23, 2019