Hurt: Follow the Path to Prosperity

Letter to the Editor

By: U.S. Rep. Robert Hurt | R-Chatham
Published: May 24, 2011

I write in response to the letter to the editor, “Hurt should keep digging to resolve the debt,” written by Mr. Robert Cooper.

With our nation facing a $14 trillion debt and $1.6 trillion deficit, I appreciate Mr. Cooper lending his support to the need to cut government spending so that we can reduce the debt, grow our economy, and create jobs for 5th District Virginians.

As Mr. Cooper rightly pointed out, in order to truly address our dire debt crisis, we need to dig deep to get ourselves out of this hole. That is why I supported the House Republicans’ Path to Prosperity budget. This plan is an honest, straightforward, and responsible approach to the serious fiscal challenges that face the 5th District and our nation.

The plan begins to move us towards a balanced budget by eliminating hundreds of duplicative programs, returning non-security discretionary spending below 2008 levels, and most notably, by cutting $6.2 trillion in government spending. It also seeks to save and protect our health and retirement programs for this generation and the next, while ensuring there are no changes in benefits for those 55 or older.

On the issue of defense spending, the House budget recognizes that the first job of government is to protect its citizens from threats at home and abroad and that our military must have the resources necessary to defend our nation. But, as is the case with all categories of government spending, defense spending should be executed efficiently. The Path to Prosperity budget accepts Defense Secretary Gates’ $178 billion efficiencies and savings proposals, which will streamline operations at the Pentagon without jeopardizing our national security interests.

Last, not only does the plan prevent the $1.5 trillion tax increase called for in the president's budget and eliminate roughly $800 billion in tax increases imposed by the Democrats' health care law, it seeks to reform the nation’s overly complex tax code. It proposes removing many of the tax code’s deductions and loopholes that allow some corporations to pay no income taxes at all, while lowering tax rates to incentivize domestic investment and job growth.

As the House continues to take several steps to get our fiscal house in order, it is my hope that we can all work together to address these important issues to ensure that we leave our children and grandchildren with an even more prosperous America.