Washington, D.C. – Congressman Rick Berg today declared his commitment to changing the way Washington works and halting President Obama’s out-of-control spending, despite today’s disappointing outcome of the Balanced Budget Amendment.

“I’m incredibly disappointed that many House Democrats today put politics ahead of getting our nation back on track, but the fight to change Washington and put the brakes on President Obama’s unsustainable government spending does not end today,” Berg stated.  “The economic crisis facing our nation is clear.  Our national debt has surpassed $15 trillion—the total size of the American economy—and it will continue to grow unless we fundamentally change the way Washington does business.  Our nation is on an unsustainable path, and it needs to change. I will continue to work to halt President Obama’s spending spree and ensure that our children and grandchildren are not left with a nation burdened with a mountain of debt.”

Yesterday, Berg led House Freshmen efforts to call on Congress to spend no more than it takes in.  Joined by nearly twenty House Republicans, Berg expressed the need to change the way Washington works and put in place common sense solutions, like a balanced budget amendment, that would work to get the nation’s fiscal house in order.

As another step in the fight to change the Washington does business, Berg announced today that he has signed on as a co-sponsor to the Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act of 2011.  This legislation would streamline and stabilize the budget process by instituting a biennial budget system, similar to that used in North Dakota.  Berg noted that Congress has failed to meet its deadline for the completion of a budget resolution all but six times since the enactment of the 1974 Budget Act.  Biennial budgeting would allow for greater stability and rationality to the federal budget and appropriations process.

Berg, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, has been a strong advocate of adopting a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  Last week, Berg joined North Dakota state legislators at the North Dakota State Capitol and wrote an op-ed to express the need for Washington to spend no more than it takes in and work to halt President Obama’s unsustainable spending.
 

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