The national debt surpassed a milestone last week, though not one easily understood or especially surprising.
The debt topped $20 trillion, drawing laments from some Republicans in the Arizona congressional delegation and serving anew as ammunition for others worried about the nation's spending at a constitutional planning convention gathered this week in Phoenix.
U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., has long made reining in federal spending a cornerstone of his campaigns. He used the milestone to raise the issue again.
“No budget gimmick or phony spending offset can hide the fact that $20 trillion is the largest debt ever owed by any nation in history," Flake said. "It’s time for Congress to change the way Washington does business. Shutting down the Washington favor factory with a permanent ban on earmarks and eliminating duplicative, wasteful, and unnecessary federal spending would be a good start.”
U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., noted the debt milestone as well.
"Instead of debating how Congress could take action to reduce the risk of default and substantial payments our grandchildren will inherit, Congress continues to encourage reckless spending and unaccountable taxpayer-funded programs," he said. "Rather than making the hard choices now, we are forcing Americans into an even tougher situation in the future because of this rising debt."
Read more at:
http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2017/09/14/20-trillion-national-debt-gop-dismay-grow-washington/663834001/
