Congressman John Campbell's Blog - Green Eyeshade Blog

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Posted by: John Campbell at 12:53 PM

Congressman Ryan (WI) is the Ranking Member from the Committee on the Budget, and the main designer of the American Roadmap.

America is on an unsustainable fiscal course. Today, U.S. Congressman Paul Ryan the unfunded liability of just our two largest entitlement programs – Medicare and Social Security – is $40 trillion. That’s nearly $400,000 for every household in the U.S., and this burden continues to grow every year Congress fails to act.

If we continue down this path and do nothing to reform these programs -- the federal government will double in size, shackling the country with a future of higher debt, higher taxation, and a lower standard of living.

It is unconscionable to leave our children with this type of future. America’s legacy has always been to leave the next generation better off than the one before it. Unfortunately, Congress’ unwillingness to address the nation’s entitlement crisis threatens to shatter this legacy.

That’s why I’ve introduced A Roadmap for America’s Future, comprehensive legislation that seeks to transform the major federal entitlement programs, as well as the federal tax code. My plan achieves three important goals: 1) it provides universal access to health care and saves Social Security and Medicare; 2) it lifts the looming debt burden off of future generations; and 3) it ensures America leads and continues to create jobs in an increasingly competitive global economy.

Rather than working to address the unsustainable growth in the entitlement programs, many in Congress claim it’s not politically feasible to try to reform them in an election year. Well, it’s an election year every other year. They make excuses, taking a pass on tackling a problem that is going to tackle us.

Not Representative John Campbell. He understands this problem and wants to fix it. He has the courage to talk about what is necessary to address this problem, and I’m lucky to have him as a cosponsor on my bill.

America has risen to overcome greater challenges in the past. With the leadership from members like John Campbell and the ingenuity, strength and resolve of Americans, we can solve this problem and leave a greater legacy for our children and grandchildren.

For more details on A Roadmap for America’s Future, please visit www.americanroadmap.org.

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)
Ranking Member
Committee on the Budget

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Pasadena Phil writes:	Tuesday, August, 12, 2008 2:12 PM
Here's the problem
No leadership in either party. For instance, now that the price of oil has declined sharply (temporarily for sure), no one is pushing for drilling and a sensible energy bill. Townhall and politicians only deal with catastrophes in progress. Anything that requires advance planning lacks urgency, has no sex appeal. You posted this at 12:53 and I am the first to post a comment. It won't happen until we get leadership at the top and that is not going to happen this year. And neither party is paying attention to what voters want. I hope you have the good sense to run against party leaders congressman because you will not be finding any support there.
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Pasadena Phil writes:	Tuesday, August, 12, 2008 9:29 PM
See what I mean?
Hours and hours later, I still have the only comments. Townhall is not a conservative website that cares about issues. This is a RINO site attracting mostly liberals and simpletons who are enthrall to the fear-mongering and race-baiting being pitched by the RNC and the McCain campaign. It is utterly impossible to get anyone focused on specific issues here unless it involves character assassination of Obama. We should be playing a strong supporting role in the "revolt" over energy policy in the House. Crickets.... We should be up in arms over amnesty, cap and trade, and other important issues. Crickets.... But we know the most prurient details of Obama minutiae. Good luck. I'm behind you 100% but having completely sold out to the new globalist big government GOP, Townhall is not a player when it comes for conservatism. The new mantra is: "The only good Republican is a Democrat. The only good conservative is a liberal."
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sir aslan writes:	Wednesday, August, 13, 2008 5:27 AM
GETTING CLOSE TO ELECTION TIME??
We, the America people have heard it all before and will continue to hear it all again. Empty promises..........do nothing Congress! Already you and your colleagues are supporting bills that have given or will give billions of dollars to fight Aids and Malaria in Africa and ease the plight of uneducated savages who continue to have children like rabbits. The leadership of both parties is pathetic. Globalism rules the day. Greed is the sister of Globalism and thats what rules the way you and most of your colleagues vote. America and Americans should be your number one priority..........but just like former Senator Phil Graham....you and your colleagues have forgotten and you no longer dance with the folks what brung ya! I hope there is a Clean Sweep of Congress so we can try and start over again with a clean slate.
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drpete writes:	Thursday, August, 14, 2008 8:07 AM
Contract with America II
See http://www.drpetestevens.net.
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Reagan Values writes:	Tuesday, August, 19, 2008 3:29 PM
Keep Trying - Never Give Up
Nice to see some in Congress are still working to come up with solutions. Citizens in this great country of ours have the great fortune to be able to choose how they want to participate in their government, even if their choice is to abstain or revolt. Many have given their lives for this freedom and I look forward to helping in the fight to recapture our founding principle of free markets and limited government. Interested parties might visit this site http://www.smallgovernmentact.org. Taxxachussetts is going to pass a law in November that will end their state income tax and will begin to create a forcing function that directs politicians to start working on the waste, fraud, and pork that occupies every public budget on a local, state and federal level. Like Prop 13, I’m hoping this trend catches on and sets an example of limiting access to funds as a way to drive our message that spending is the issue, not more revenue.
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About John Campbell

John Campbell is a member of the House Financial Services Committee, and has taken a leadership role in addressing the country's top economic issues. Campbell serves as a member of the Joint Economic Committee, and House Committee on the Budget. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from UCLA and a Master's Degree in Taxation from USC.