THE FIRST 100 DAYS -- Our Fight to Renew Fiscal Sanity Has Just Begun

Fri, 01 May 2009 20:13:22 +0000 – By Rep. Tom PriceU.S. House of Representatives

Looking back on President Obama's first 100 days, this administration's agenda and direction for the country have been eye-opening. With the gleeful assistance of his liberal allies in Congress, he has already managed to bury future generations under a mountain of debt. The President's $787 billion non-stimulus, the meddlesome bailouts, and his enormously bloated budget plan indicate the sad truth that generational theft is now the guiding policy of the day.

The massive expansion of government currently taking place has been disheartening for those who know that politicians and bureaucrats are ill-equipped to spend taxpayer money responsibly, run private industries, and dictate personal choices. Yet, even in this dark hour, I see hope for the future.

Our approach to the president's big-government plans has been two-pronged: principled opposition to proposals that may devalue America's fiscal, social, or national security standing; and thoughtful, principled solutions for the challenges facing America.

While Democrats rushed a massive, pork-laden "stimulus" bill through Congress, the RSC offered a package promoting real economic growth with relief for job producing businesses, tax cuts for 100% of taxpayers, and even a discretionary spending cut. We also produced a more prudent budget plan, countering the president's $3.6 trillion budget proposal with something Washington has not seen a long time--a balanced budget!

President Obama's big-government agenda has failed to live up to his campaign promises of responsibility. On the other hand, he has succeeded in reminding Republicans that a return to conservative principles, not an indifference to them, will restore prosperity to both country and party. Our fight to renew fiscal sanity has just begun.

The first 100 days of President Obama's tenure have laid the groundwork for the most intrusive federal overreach in the country's history, but this agenda will not proceed uncontested. Armed with bold ideas, Republicans can once again prove we are the party of solutions.

Tom Price represents Georgia's sixth district in the U.S. House of Representatives.