Congress and the Growing National Debt: A Call for Fiscal Responsibility

Back in 2011, the national debt stood around $15 trillion, and the U.S. Treasury was shelling out more than $450 billion just on interest payments. At that time, it was evident that Washington was desperately trying to print money to escape another financial crisis, while also sending hefty subsidies to health insurance companies through the Affordable Care Act. Many, including myself, knew that such an extensive spending spree wasn’t sustainable.

This led to a new wave of conservative leaders, including me, taking a stand in Congress. We were driven by a clear message from the American public to restore fiscal responsibility and secure financial stability for future generations. I even left my medical practice to enter public office because I couldn’t bear the thought of our children facing financial ruin due to reckless governance.

My commitment to fiscal responsibility remains strong, and later this year, I intend to push for a vote on my latest balanced budget initiative known as the Six Penny Plan.

But here’s the thing—I’m sorry to say that Congress seems completely out of touch with reality.

Under the Six Penny Plan, Congress would be required to identify a six-percentage-point cut in spending each year for five years. Once we achieve a balanced budget, expenditures can increase based on additional revenue from economic growth.

Currently, the national debt has soared past $40 trillion, with Congress now dishing out over $1 trillion annually just for interest payments. This amount exceeds what we spend on national defense. Such overwhelming debt contributes to increasing interest rates and inflation, affecting every American. It’s like a glaring red warning—just as striking as the ink on our budget documents.

So, what’s Congress’s solution to this escalating fiscal crisis? More of the same. Earlier this summer, they passed a continuing resolution that merely extends the existing situation, and another extension is on the agenda before the year concludes.

However, it doesn’t have to continue like this. When Congress revisits government funding later this year, they could adopt my Six Penny Plan, which is designed to balance the budget within five years.

No one can genuinely advocate for a balanced budget while simultaneously voting against the only balanced budget proposal that appears. We need to cut the empty promises and stop the excuses.

The Six Penny Plan doesn’t dictate specific programs or budget categories to eliminate; it actually exempts Social Security from any cuts. Instead, it establishes a maximum spending level. The discussion about what priorities fit within that limit is open. It raises the real questions that many Americans face at various times: What can we keep, and what should we cut? The Six Penny Plan calls for identifying a six percent cut each year for five years. After achieving a balanced budget, spending can then rise with economic growth.

Interestingly, when I first introduced what later became the Penny Plan back in 2018, the approach would have required Congress to maintain a spending freeze for five years instead of making cuts. The lack of action back then has made the situation even more challenging today.

Over the years, the plan evolved from the Penny Plan, which called for a one percent cut, to the Pennies Plan, and now to the Six Penny Plan, which asks us to identify six pennies out of every dollar.

For too long, kicking the can down the road has been the norm in Congress. It’s as if lawmakers have treated the debt as someone else’s problem—something to deal with later. Well, that later is now. Each year Congress remains inactive only fuels the looming debt bomb, increasing the potential for a more significant crisis later.

Moreover, inaction should really be labeled for what it is: a vote to increase the hidden inflation tax on everyone, allowing inflation to wreak havoc on our daily costs. This inaction is simply unacceptable.

The Six Penny Plan represents the solution. The positive side is that when it was brought to a vote in 2024 and 2025, most Senate Republicans supported it. A budget resolution requires only a majority vote to pass, so the numbers are there for Senate Republicans to push the Six Penny Plan through.

This is our moment. Support for the Six Penny Plan is growing, and the votes should align. Let’s demonstrate that conservatives can keep our pledges and achieve a balanced budget.

It’s time to pass the Six Penny Plan.