2014 ID Senate debate: on Tax Reform

Jim Risch: No tax increases, but no cuts to entitlements nor veterans

JIM RISCH: No tax increases. I do not favor any cut to the current recipients of social security, Medicare, veterans' benefits, or those who are soon to become recipients. Those promised benefits have been earned and paid for by the recipients and are a legal and moral obligation to them. Because the government is spending 25% more money than they are taking in, and borrowing that money, all other spending needs to be reviewed.

NELS MITCHELL: Members of the Senate spend too much time grabbing for headlines. When Ted Cruz, aided by Jim Risch, shut down the government for 16 days more than $24 billion of taxpayer dollars was wasted. That type of callous waste and indifference is dangerous to the country. We have a tax system that plays favorites and is inefficient.