With the national debt surpassing $40 trillion, Missouri Rep. Eric Burlison is candidly criticizing his fellow lawmakers, labeling them as “drunk on spending” while working-class families suffer the consequences. Recently, he spoke in-depth about fiscal responsibility, healthcare, inflation, and how Republicans might improve their standing in the upcoming midterm elections, which are just around the corner.
Burlison believes that many of his colleagues have a tendency to spend—often carelessly—using funds that don’t belong to them. He expressed his frustration, stating, “Most of my colleagues like to spend money…they like to spend other people’s money.” He mentioned that he was among the few advocating for significant cuts. They had to “fight tooth and nail” to achieve any reductions in what he describes as the Big, Beautiful Bill, often facing hostility even from their own party members.
“At some point, the party is going to be over,” he warned, suggesting that a painful reality awaits those who ignore the issue of overspending. The repercussions are already visible, he argues, with uncontrollable inflation and skyrocketing interest rates. “Sadly, my colleagues that weren’t willing to cut spending are going to be forced to cut spending,” he added.
As the Republican Party strives to present itself as the party of affordability, Burlison points out a significant communication challenge. He identifies healthcare as a key concern, lamenting, “It’s really sad.” He underscored that his office has been persistently urging leadership to recognize that Americans are struggling with costs. They proposed solutions, including the Great American healthcare plan and another addressing housing affordability, but have found it frustratingly challenging to push these ideas through.
Burlison highlighted the drastic increase in healthcare costs over the years. “In the year 2000, the average American family was paying $6,000 a year for insurance premiums for a family of four. Today, that’s $27,000 a year,” he stated. If healthcare premiums had simply kept pace with inflation, families would be paying around $11,000. This disparity is impacting all aspects of life, from housing to dining out, forcing families to confront tough choices.
Reflecting on the political landscape, Burlison noted the initial excitement surrounding the advent of DOGE—and how that enthusiasm faded when lawmakers, who should be engaging in necessary spending cuts, seemed more interested in public relations. He criticized the disconnect between members who professed to support economic prudence and their voting behavior against spending cuts.
Burlison finds the GOP’s messaging to be fundamentally flawed and urges a renewed focus on economics, particularly regarding healthcare. “If you ask the American voter today, what will the Republican Party do if they’re reelected… I don’t think that they would know,” he pointed out. He emphasized the need to articulate a clear vision: a commitment to making healthcare affordable and transparent.
On a related note, he suggested a tax cut on fuel during times of conflict. “I would love to eliminate the taxes altogether, but at least it would make sense that during this conflict we should cut taxes on both gas and diesel until this war is resolved,” he proposed, indicating that such measures would offer relief to the public amidst rising costs.
