Ann Kirkpatrick: “Over the past months, we have witnessed firsthand the potential consequences of allowing the national debt to continue…”

“Over the past months, we have witnessed firsthand the potential consequences of allowing the national debt to continue growing out of control. Greece borrowed heavily during the last decade during the boom and the bubble and found itself at risk of default when global credit dried up. Now the country is facing financial disaster. The crisis should serve as a warning to Washington. This country's debt is now $12.9 trillion and is approaching unsustainable levels. We must address the fiscal imbalance here before it's too late. Washington must start by making major changes to the budget--changes that go beyond freezing spending and instead look to make significant budget cuts. That means we have to crack down on the consequence-free spending culture in Congress. Washington needs to put a priority on eliminating waste and finding cost-effective ways to achieve this country's goals. Budget cuts are not always easy or popular, but business as usual in Washington is not working. Greece's rapid spiral shows that it is past time that we start to take serious steps--both big and small--to address our fiscal health.”