Economy and Jobs

Working families in Oklahoma are feeling the bite of the national recession caused by too-easy credit policies. Instead of taking common sense steps to get the economy back on the right track, President Obama and Congressional Democrats believe in spending trillions of dollars on a liberal shopping spree with no accountability.

Overspending got the country into this mess. Borrowing trillions of dollars to fund trillion dollar deficits is not the answer. Democrats’ prescription to remedy the economic problem is worse than the disease.

In Congress, Kevin will work to get the economy on the right track in two ways. First, he will work to instill spending discipline. The current growth of government is simply unsustainable. Conservative estimates by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office project that President Obama’s budgets will likely grow the federal deficit by 10 trillion dollars over the next decade, an unsustainable figure. American families must budget their checkbooks every month; why is it so difficult for Congress to do the same? Kevin will fight to eliminate bloated federal agencies and ineffective government programs. Mortgaging our children’s future is not only shortsighted, but also morally wrong. Kevin opposes TARP and other government bailouts.

Second, Kevin will work to provide relief for taxpayers. Taxes are a necessary evil in order for government to fund important items like roads and defense. However, when politicians tax citizens to pay for wasteful and unneeded projects, then taxation is morally wrong, the equivalent of robbery.

Throughout history, reductions in income tax rates have spurred investment, created wealth and produced jobs. President Coolidge’s tax cuts created an economic boom during the 1920’s. Ronald Reagan’s tax cuts lifted the country out of recession. Even President Kennedy cut taxes during his administration, while noting that “a rising tide lifts all boats.”

Tax cuts and a smaller federal budget will lead to greater investment and will most certainly create permanent jobs. During times of economic crisis, calling for government intervention in the economy makes politicians look like they are doing something, but such government intervention is nearly always harmful to the economy. In the long run, greater government only creates greater problems. It is better to realize that economic downturns are temporary, and that with liquid capital markets and laws which allow free enterprise, our economy will recover without excessive government intervention. Socialistic government intervention, on the other hand, will worsen and prolong the economic downturn.