U. S. Senator Tells Central Nation Must Cut Spending

CENTRAL — Addressing a Town Hall meeting in Central Tuesday morning, Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) said the debt ceiling increase passed by Congress last week was completely inadequate.  He said he had predicted it would result in a credit downgrade and serious economic consequences, and it already has.

Vitter said Standard & Poors had told Congress it must cut spending by at least $4 trillion to maintain its AAA credit rating.  Instead, Vitter said, Congress cut only one-half that amount.  “The cuts were so modest and so back loaded as to have no positive effect,” he said.

The senator said the debt ceiling bill passed by Congress had three major problems:

• First, it only had $10 billion in spending cuts the first year.  “That’s nothing in a $2.8 trillion budget,” he said.  “That’s only 1/3 of 1 percent in the first two years.   The plan was not substantial.”

• Second, there was little enforcement in the plan.  It can be easily undone by any future Congress, he said.

• Third, the triggers in the bill present undesirable alternatives.  “If the Super Committee set up by the bill fails to come up with sufficient cuts, there will be ultra deep automatic cuts in defense spending that would endanger our national security.  On the other hand, if the Super Committee fails to make cuts, there are few automatic cuts to scare the liberals, he said.

In answer to a question about why it took so long to pass a bill, Vitter said, “The President wants a crisis, so the conservatives will crater.”

The senator stressed the importance of energy independence and offshore drilling.  He slammed the Obama administration for supporting $4 billion in World Bank funds going to Brazil to drill off shore, while opposing drilling off the U.S. coast.

“They say don’t drill, but the Chinese will be drilling soon in the Gulf under leases from Cuba,” he said.

Richard Devall said the credit downgrade could force Congress to cut spending.  Vitter said a cut of only 1 percent would balance the budget in eight years.

Sheldon Anderson said, “Everybody knows you have to cut back!”  Vitter said, “I hear you!”

Mrs. H. J. LeBleu said, “We’re crashing down the mountainside.  For what?  I think it’s intentional.”

Vitter said the national debt is now $47,000 for every man, woman, and child in the country.  “If you just count taxpayers, it’s $129,000 for every taxpayer,” he said.

Sen. Vitter said, “If you look at history, you see that revenue actually produced varies little, regardless of the tax rate.  You can double the rate, but you won’t double the revenue, because people work less and take tax advantages.  We should adjust spending to reflect actual revenues.”

More than 200 people attended the Town Meeting and the overwhelming majority seem to favor Vitter tight spending approach.

By Woody Jenkins, Editor, Central City News