On the recordJune 9, 2010
The Republican Study Committee has a proposal through Jim Jordan's subcommittee on the economy that would balance the budget in 10 years. It would cut spending in areas other than homeland security and defense, and it does not touch Social Security. I am one of those who believe that we have to protect our entitlement system by reforming it rather than by leaving it alone. But let's save that discussion for another day. Another proposal, one that I have with Representative Sam Johnson of Texas, would reduce the size of the Federal employment force through attrition. In other words, every time someone vacates a position through retirement or other means, that position would go into a position pool. And only those positions that are absolutely necessary to sustain the rolls of government as contemplated by the Constitution would be reclaimed and redeployed into the Federal employment force. There are any number of ideas. The Paul Ryan proposal, the Jim Jordan proposal, this proposal. Jeb Hensarling has proposals, many that are comprehensive in nature that will provide that glide path to a better economy and do it without raising taxes. So even though you hear frequently that the Republicans are being shortsighted in the fact that they do not want to consider tax increases as part of an economic recovery plan, you are correct that most of us don't.
