Senator John Curtis continues to join the conversation of fiscal responsibility in government, calling it a “leadership test we can’t ignore.” In an Opinion piece dated February 22nd, Curtis dives right into it, stating, “Federal debt has soared past $36 trillion, a figure so large it seems almost abstract. But the consequences of this debt are not abstract. They threaten our national security, economic stability and long-term prosperity. A perfect storm is brewing, where our spiraling debt payments will soon consume such a large portion of the federal budget that there will be little funding available for essential services like Social Security, infrastructure and national defense. At that point, the only choices will be draconian program cuts or an even more reckless expansion of the money supply. If the government continues monetizing its debt, inflation will accelerate, further eroding the value of the dollar — or worse, leaving us without buyers for our debt. Such a storm, and either choice, will undoubtedly hurt the poor and the most vulnerable Americans the most.” Among the items explored, Senator Curtis calls out the budgeting process itself, saying that it does not work as it “incentivizes the brinkmanship of shutdown-showdowns, endless continuing resolutions and bloated omnibus bills rushed through in the dead of night. It’s a recipe for dysfunction, disaster and even more debt.” Senator Curtis’ Appropriations on Demand Act would only require a new budget, he says, “when clear shifts in priorities or circumstances demand it. This approach would bring stability, ensuring government functions without the constant threat of shutdowns or the reckless and expensive eleventh-hour policymaking.”
