On the recordJuly 19, 2011
Every second of every day Washington adds another $40,000 to our national debt. In fact, by the time I finish speaking this sentence our national debt will increase another $360,000--$360,000 in one sentence. We've reached the edge of a cliff, and it's going to take tough decisions and responsible leadership to eliminate this massive, massive debt. That's why today I rise in support of H.R. 2560, the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act of 2011. I support it because it's right, not because it's a Republican plan, but because it's a commonsense plan. It's the American family plan. Every American family cuts their budget, caps their budget, and balances their budget with their own finances; so should Washington. That is not an unfair expectation. To argue against this is to argue against common sense. This is to say, as bad parents do, ``Do as I say, not as I do.'' That is bad parenting, and that's also bad legislation. Unfortunately, over the past 3 months, our efforts to get serious about this crisis have been met with scare tactics. Enough. Enough of the political parlor tricks coming out of this city. It is time for us to do the job that the American people sent us here to do: practice common, walking-around sense. That's what my grandfather taught me. That's good at home; that's good in the family; that's good in small business; and it is good enough for Washington, D.C.
