March 17, 2023
The United States has already reached its statutory debt limit. We commend the House Freedom Caucus for its Shrink Washington, Grow America framework that, as conditions for considering supporting a debt-ceiling increase, calls for significant cuts to current spending, long-term caps on future spending, and major policy changes and reforms to the wasteful, woke, and weaponized federal bureaucracy. As you explore whether or not to increase the debt ceiling, we urge you to adhere to the following principles.
Negotiate. President Biden has asserted that he will not negotiate on the debt ceiling—that it must merely be increased an enormous amount without anything else in return. This is unconscionable, given the amount of debt we are already saddling onto future generations of Americans and the exorbitant and harmful level of interest payments with which current taxpayers are already burdened. Just as a bank would not repeatedly raise someone’s credit card limit without conditions, so too must Congress not continually raise the debt ceiling without commensurate spending reductions and reforms.
Fixed Dollar Amount. Some have suggested that the debt ceiling should be suspended—i.e., that there should be no debt ceiling for a certain period of time. This is also outrageous. Just as a bank would never eliminate a credit card limit for a customer who repeatedly reaches his or her credit limit, so too must Congress not be so irresponsible with the nation’s finances. Any negotiated increase in the debt ceiling must be a fixed dollar amount.
Now and the Future. Any negotiated increase in the debt ceiling must be accompanied by substantial reductions in federal spending now—in the current fiscal year—AND in each of the subsequent nine fiscal years, at a minimum. The spending reductions must be real (as opposed to accounting gimmicks) and very difficult to stop, once enacted into law.
Discretionary and Direct Spending. Any negotiated spending reductions to accompany a debt ceiling increase must come from both discretionary and direct (a.k.a. “mandatory”) spending accounts.
Defense. While any negotiated discretionary spending reductions should come from as many parts of the federal budget as possible, any cuts to outdated, harmfully bureaucratic, or “woke” spending in the Defense Department should, to the greatest extent possible, be transferred into national security accounts aimed at meeting the realities of the moment, such as repelling the growing threat of China.
Social Welfare Payments. While any negotiated direct spending reductions should come from as many so-called “entitlement” programs as possible—from Medicaid for non-poor people, to welfare without work, to long-term housing—we encourage you to avoid any reductions to American citizens’ Social Security benefits and Medicare benefits in this particular negotiation.
Proportional. Any negotiated increase in the debt ceiling must be proportional to the level and timing of the accompanying spending reductions. A large increase in the debt ceiling must not be paired with small, meaningless spending reductions or with spending reductions of any size that do not start in year one or substantially take effect in the first few years.
Freedom. Every dollar of federal spending is not the same as every other. We encourage you to focus on reducing spending on agencies, programs, and authorities that undermine the God-given freedoms and traditional values of the American people.
Structural Reforms. With or without any accompanying increase in the debt ceiling this year, you may also want to consider structural reforms to how the United States manages its debts and regulations, such as legislation to clarify that the United States Treasury will first and always pay the principal and interest on U.S. debt when the debt limit is reached, and legislation to require congressional approval for proposed regulations that would have an economic impact of at least $100 million.
Take Your Time. The supposed end-dates to the Treasury’s “extraordinary measures” upon reaching the debt limit seem to frequently line up with the starts of significant congressional recesses. Since this apparent trend is likely not a coincidence, Congress should take the time it needs to get this negotiation right, in accordance with the above principles, and not feel pressured to meet any fabricated deadlines driven by Wall-Street scare tactics.
Continuing on the federal government’s current fiscal trajectory would be cruel to the American people, including those not yet born. We hope you will realize and lean into the grandeur of this moment and work to implement fiscal solutions that are truly meaningful and lasting, so that the nation’s public debt does not keep increasing and that hitting the debt ceiling does not continue as a regular practice of the federal government.
Thank you for your consideration, and please let us know how we can help you in this great endeavor.
| The Honorable Edwin Meese III Attorney General President Ronald Reagan (1985-1988) |
The Honorable J. Kenneth Blackwell Chairman, Conservative Action Project Chairman, CNP Action, Inc. |
| The Honorable Paul S. Teller, Ph.D. Executive Director Advancing American Freedom |
The Honorable Tony Perkins President Family Research Council |
| The Honorable Jim DeMint Chairman, Conservative Partnership Institute Member, US Senate (SC 2005-2013) |
Jenny Beth Martin Chairman Tea Party Patriots Citizen Fund |
| David N. Bossie President Citizens United |
William L. Walton The Bill Walton Show Resolute Protector Foundation |
| The Honorable T. Kenneth Cribb, Jr. Chief Domestic Advisor President Ronald Reagan (1987-1988) |
Ed Corrigan Vice Chairman, Conservative Action Project President & CEO, Conservative Partnership Institute |
| David Bozell President ForAmerica |
The Honorable Morton C. Blackwell President The Leadership Institute |
| Star Parker President & Founder Center for Urban Renewal and Education (CURE) |
Marty Dannenfelser Vice President for Government Relations and Coalitions Center for Urban Renewal and Education (CURE) |
| The Honorable Becky Norton Dunlop White House Advisor President Ronald Reagan (1981-1985) |
Bob Carlstrom President AMAC Action |
| Lisa B. Nelson Chief Executive Officer American Legislative Exchange Council |
Thomas E. McClusky Principal Greenlight Strategies, LLC |
| Terry Schilling President American Principles Project |
Myron Ebell Director, Center for Energy and Environment Competitive Enterprise Institute |
| The Honorable Ken Cuccinelli, II Senior Fellow Center for Renewing America |
The Honorable Mary Vought Executive Director Senate Conservatives Fund |
| L. Brent Bozell III Founder and President Media Research Center |
Lori Roman President ACRU Action Fund |
| Tom Jones President American Accountability Foundation |
Alfred S. Regnery President Republic Book Publishers |
| Chad Connelly Founder and President Faith Wins |
Scott T. Parkinson Vice President for Government Affairs Club for Growth |
| Cleta Mitchell, Esq. Senior Legal Fellow Conservative Partnership Institute |
Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin (Ret.) Executive Vice President Family Research Council |
| The Honorable Bob McEwen U.S. House of Representatives Former Member, Ohio |
Andrew Roth President State Freedom Caucus Network |
| The Honorable Scott Walker President Young America’s Foundation |
Karen England President Capitol Resource Institute |
| Darrel W. Johnson CEO Attic Corp |
Brigitte Gabriel Chairman and CEO ACT For America |
| Dr. Jerome R. Corsi, Ph.D. Founder and CEO Corstet LLC |
Dr. Virginia Armstrong National Chrm., Law & Worldview Program Eagle Forum |
| Kristen A. Ullman President Eagle Forum |
The Honorable George K. Rasley Jr. Managing Editor ConservativeHQ.com |
| Lee Beaman CEO Beaman Ventures |
Mallory Staples Director State Freedom Caucus Network |
| Nick Kerin State Director, Pennsylvania State Freedom Caucus Network |
Collin Moseley State Director, Illinois State Freedom Caucus Network |
| Judson Phillips Founder Tea Party Nation |
Evan Newman State Director, South Carolina State Freedom Caucus Network |
| Blake Bassham Legislative Director, Georgia State Freedom Caucus Network |
Lt. Col. Darin L. Gaub (ret) Co-founder and National Spokesman Restore Liberty |
| Allen Hebert Chairman American-Chinese Fellowship of Houston |
Sean Noble President American Encore |
| Art Ally President Timothy Partners, Ltd. |
Craig Shirley Reagan Biographer Presidential Historian |
| Richard A. Viguerie Chairman American Target Advertising |
Kelly M. Kullberg Senior Fellow American Association of Evangelicals (AAE) |
| Melvin Adams President Noah Webster Educational Foundation |
David B. Kullberg Executive Director Christians for A Sound Economy (CASE) |
| Sandy Rios Director of Governmental Affairs American Family Association |
Ron Pearson Executive Director Conservative Victory Fund |
| The Honorable James C. Miller III Budget Director for President Reagan, 1985-1988 |
Seton Motley President Less Government |
| Tim Throckmorton President Lifepointe Ministries |
Elaine Donnelly President Center for Military Readiness |
| Jessie Rubino State Director, Wyoming State Freedom Caucus Network |
Tom DeWeese President American Policy Center |
| Saulius “Saul” Anuzis President 60 Plus Association |
James L. Martin Founder/Chairman 60 Plus Association |
| Kevin Freeman Co-Founder NSIC Institute |
The Honorable Gary L. Bauer President American Values |
| Connie Hair State Director, Louisiana State Freedom Caucus Network |
Paavo Ensio Chairman Universal Minerals Group |
| Gerard Kassar State Chairman NYS Conservative Party |
Susan Carleson Currer Chairman/CEO The Carleson Center for Welfare Reform |
| Tim Macy Chairman Gun Owners of America |
Mario Navarro da Costa Director, Washington Bureau Tradition, Family, Property, Inc. |
| C. Preston Noell III President Tradition, Family, Property, Inc. |
Robert K. Fischer Meeting Coordinator Conservatives of Faith |
| William W. Pascoe, III Our Man in Washington Tea Party Patriots Action |
The Honorable Peter J. Thomas Chairman The Conservative Caucus |
| Richard Hayes Representative State of Texas |
Suanne Edmiston State Director, Arizona State Freedom Caucus Network |
| Kay R. Daly President Coalition for a Fair Judiciary |
Joan Holt Lindsey President Lindsey Communications |
| Eric Georgatos Executive Producer americacanwetalk.org |
Maria Nate State Director, Idaho State Freedom Caucus Network |
| Charles J. Cooper Assistant Attorney General, President Ronald Reagan (1985-1988) Cooper & Kirk, PLLC |
Dr. Jerry A. Johnson President (2013-2019) National Religious Broadcasters |
| Rod D. Martin Founder & CEO Martin Capital, Inc. |
Guillermo J. Aragon Chief Strategy Officer Martin Capital, Inc. |
| Christina Murphy, Esq. President The Martin Foundation |
Lourdes Cosio Campaign for the American Future |
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