Huelskamp: Budget should be balanced without cutting military

Oct. 02--The national debt is still a big problem, but the Congressman representing the Big First district of Kansas in the US House isn't willing to cut defense or Medicare.

That national debt has racked up to $18 trillion with a $500 billion deficit this year alone, U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp told those at a town hall meeting in Washington, Kan. on Wednesday.

"Some people are excited that it's not a trillion dollars, but ladies and gentleman, we have a long way to go before we balance the budget," Huelskamp said. "Congress estimates that if nothing changes (the national debt) is still going to grow and grow. If anyone from Washington (DC) tells you we've got this figured out, they're not being honest with you."

The annual deficit will end up less than the $649 billion deficit that was budgeted this year, and less the $680 billion in 2013, $1.08 trillion in 2012 and $1.3 trillion in 2011.

In answering a Dispatch question on how he would get the national debt under control, Huelskamp said he would follow the Paul Ryan budget, which would balance the budget in 10 years.

"There are some pretty tough choices to make," he said.

However, when asked what he thought of his opponent Democrat Jim Sherow's proposals to bring debt under control, Huelskamp said "Slashing the military budget is pretty risky strategy right now," a measure Sherow has proposed.

Following the public meeting, Huelskamp accused Sherow of supporting $716 billion in cuts to Medicare because he supports the Affordable Health Care Act. This cut to Medicare over 10 years under the Affordable Health Care will be done without loss in coverage and despite the cut, and actually extends coverage to those in the doughnut hole (See www.obamacarefacts.com/obamacare-medicare.php. for more information).

Cutting Medicare "is not the way to balance the budget, on the backs of those on Medicare" Huelskamp said, adding that unlike Sherow, he does not support the Affordable Health Care Act.

Huelskamp said he also believes it possible to grow the economy, which would help reduce the deficit with more taxes collected. But, he said that can't be done without a comprehensive energy plan that addresses coal-fired plants, finishes the Keystone Pipeline and addresses other such energy concerns.

"We need to have that to grow," he said.

The country is so much in debt because it has a spending problem and a taxing problem, Huelskamp told those attending the town hall meeting.

Because the House has only passed half the budget and the Senate has passed no appropriations bills, the federal government defaults to the budget it had last year, plus a little extra, he said, in explaining why agencies like the EPA continue to be funded. To get the debt back under control, there has to be cuts in spending, he said.

An elderly woman in the audience said she had a problem with General Electric paying less in taxes than she did. She asked Huelskamp to support "closing loopholes" because they only benefit the rich.

"We have become an oligarchy," she said. "We're not running the government -- rich people and big corporations are running it, and you know that damned good and well. I'm not rich enough to vote Republican."

Huelskamp said he supports changing the tax code to eliminate loopholes and blamed the handouts for GE on President Obama and Nancy Pelosi.

Although big business usually gets preference, one of the top tax exemptions is the mortgage interest deduction, which is worth about trillion dollars, Huelskamp said.

"That's the battle in Washington, to figure out which special interest, what particular industry will lose their tax preferences," Huelskamp said. "I don't think anyone should get a preference in the US tax code."

On other issues:

IMMIGRATION -- The U.S. has seen a surge of immigrants cross the Mexican border since President Obama issued a non-deportation order in 2012, and particularly with juveniles since this summer. Huelskamp said he supported a provision passed by the House before the August recess to "undo the president's amnesty order and also, to secure the border."

EPA REGULATIONS -- Huelskamp said he helped author and supported a bill that would stop the EPA's attempt "to regulate every drop of water in the US." Currently law states the EPA can only regulate navigable waters. Congress has also managed to "flat-line" the EPA budget, he said.

VETERANS BENEFITS -- Huelskamp said he helped author and supported bill ensuring veterans receive better health care, particularly rural veterans having access to care at their local hospital.

FEMA FLOOD PLAIN MAPS -- A constituent from Morganville said the re-map has required him to purchase flood insurance in an area that never floods. Huelskamp called the re-map project "a real mess." He said Congress is pushing for FEMA to use "common sense" in re-drawing the maps and there may be another rewrite next year because of the issues that arose this year.

ISIS AND SYRIA -- Huelskamp said he didn't like the president's decision to bomb Syria and that Congress should debate the topic and decide whether the country should go to war, not the president.

___

(c)2014 the Clay Center Dispatch (Clay Center, Kan.)

Visit the Clay Center Dispatch (Clay Center, Kan.) at www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd=1160

Distributed by MCT Information Services