Survey of 2014 Senate campaign websites: on Budget & Economy

Kevin Wade: Don't pass on a lifetime sentence of foreign debt

• Where Americans trust themselves and one another to make their own choices and follow their own paths.
• Where Americans know the government is the servant of the people's freedoms and that the American people are not servants of the government.
• Where Moms and Dads want to pass on a life of American opportunity for their children and not allow Washington to pass on a lifetime sentence of foreign debt, endless toil and cruel punitive taxation.
• Where Americans in their sure and certain wisdom describe Washington's present economic policy as, "I earned it; The government took it; That's wrong".
• Where families work and strive to build a better world for their children.
• Where men and women work to feed their family and not to feed the Federal bureaucracy.
• Where Americans say to Washington we won't have your Czars and we won't be your serfs.

Amanda Swafford: End the Federal Reserve; explore alternative currency

Nathan LaFrance: Politicians CANNOT control government spending; time for BBA

Since it is proven that our politicians CANNOT control government spending, it is time for the U.S. voters to control it for them. A vote for Nathan LaFrance to the U.S. Senate is a vote for a constitutional amendment which forces the federal government to adhere to a balanced budget every year.

A balanced budget will be achieved by phasing out and eliminating the vast federal wealth-transfer programs and by significantly reducing the size and scope of the multitude of federal agencies and administrations in existence today.

Thomas Ravenel: Government over-reacted to Great Recession: enough is enough

My default setting will be to take a machete to Washington's waste, duplication, inefficiency and unnecessary programs. I'll also make you this promise: Any one coming to my office with a plan to spend one additional dime of your tax money on a new government program better also come with a plan to get rid of an equal amount. We cannot afford to let government to continue its mindless growth.

John Buckley: National debt beggars future generations

I support balanced budgets--at a grossly reduced level of spending; the elimination of such federal agencies as the Departments of Education, HUD, and HHS (and significant budget cuts in all other federal departments); and the privatization of such unnecessary government services as passenger rail (e.g. Amtrak), NPR, coastal flood insurance, and even air traffic control. I will not vote for deficit spending, any increase in the debt ceiling, or any increase in federal spending

Amanda Curtis: Economy that works for all of us, not just for the richest

Gordon Ball: Balanced budget amendment to restore fiscal discipline

I'm for a constitutional amendment that would require the federal government to balance its budget and restore fiscal discipline in Washington.

Kevin Wade: Trust ourselves to make their own choices

I'll be there standing with them...
• Where Americans trust themselves and one another to make their own choices and follow their own paths.
• Where Americans know the government is the servant of the people's freedoms and that the American people are not servants of the government.

Brad Hutto: It's time for Congress to spend less and cut waste

Terry Adams: Income inequality has grown worse in recent decades

Adjusting for inflation, from 1966 to 2011, incomes for the bottom 90% of Americans rose by just $59.00. Meanwhile over the same period, the top 10% saw their incomes grow $116,071. Our economy has grown by leaps and bounds but nearly all of the rewards have gone to the top.

Terry Adams: Start reinvesting in the American Dream

• We must encourage and invest in people who start new businesses that put people to work in Tennessee.
• Investment in new energy sources will create good jobs.
• It's time that "Made in America" tags replace those that say "Made in China."

Greg Orman: Report federal spending by strict accounting standards

We've seen our credit rating as a country downgraded because of the whole debt ceiling debate because politicians refuse to face the tough choices we need to make and play by a different set of rules. We need to require the federal government to report expenses and revenue by the same strict accounting standards now required of all major companies.

Dave Domina: Government must live within the budget

Jeff Bell: Quantitative Easing causes inflation; erodes social contract

The most important hindrance to middle-class prosperity is the condition of the US dollar. Since 1994 it has lost over 1/3 of its value, and lost 10% in the last five years alone since the Federal Reserve began its "Quantitative Easing" program of creating new dollars. The effect of rising prices is felt everywhere: at the grocery store, the gas pump, in medical costs, and school tuition.

Jeff Bell: Gold standard helps people & small business

While Washington has gotten free financing from the Fed, everyone else has fallen behind.

This is the direct result of the Fed's policy of near zero interest rates, now in its 6th year. The suppression of interest rates below the market level has also broken down the traditional banking system, in which small businesses borrow from their local banks. The total value of all small bank business loans is approximately half of what it was when "zero interest rates" was adopted.

Monica Wehby: Problem is uncertainty in federal regulation & tax climate

Allen Weh: Reduce America's debt; implement balanced budget

• Economic Improvement for New Mexico:
• Financial Planning and Review of Year End Reports
• Protecting our federal facilities and creating good quality private sector jobs.
• Eliminating government waste, reducing America's debt, and implementing a balanced budget fair to all Americans

Mead Treadwell: $800 billion stimulus spends on backs of future generations

John Walsh: Top priority as Senator: lower the federal deficit

In order to get our fiscal house in order we must identify the parts of our budget that are wasteful and no longer working. This should be a top priority of all our elected officials and I will work each day as your Senator to lower the federal deficit.

Chris McDaniel: Balance the books by cutting spending to sustainable levels

Nels Mitchell: No silly votes to shut down government; no budget blackmail

Unlike Mr. Risch, I won't cast silly votes to shutdown our government; I won't use budget blackmail to harm Mountain Home Air Force Base or the INL, and I won't concentrate on Syria and Kazakhstan at the expense of Kootenai or Canyon County.

This election is about the record of a life-long politician who has held elected office for nearly 40 years and, in an entire term in the U.S. Senate, has not one major thing to show as an accomplishment for Idaho's families. The only desperation here is Mr. Risch's as he struggles to hold on to the job that pays him $174,000, one he recently said was so easy he could do it permanently.

Milton Wolf: Stand up to out-of-control Washington spending

"The Murray-Ryan Budget Deal is just as bad as we thought. It increases overall spending, raises taxes and fees, and does nothing to get serious about reducing our national debt. It's no wonder conservative groups like Americans for Prosperity, FreedomWorks, Heritage Action and the CATO institute are opposed to it."

"I call on Senator Roberts to vote 'no' on this bill. Caving to the Democrats' reckless demands and increasing spending by an additional $63 billion is simply irresponsible. These sorts of spend-now-and-cut-later backroom deals are the exact types of policies that got us into this mess to begin with because the back-end cuts never happen."

"Our country cannot sustain its $17 trillion dollar debt. It's time to stand up to the out of control Washington spending."

Cam Cavasso: Government spending sucks oxygen out of the economy

Matt Wiedenhoeft: Demand transparency with the˙Federal Reserve

• Demand transparency with the Federal Reserve
• Fight to reduce the national debt and spending
• Work for a balanced federal budget
• Propose and push for tax reform
• Fight for the support and funding Michigan deserves
• Introduce Social Security Reform for young Americans

Rob Maness: Our government is addicted to spending

Lee Bright: All federal spending comes from pockets of taxpayers

All that money comes from one place: the pockets of American taxpayers (or worse the pockets of future generations of taxpayers through unconscionable debt). Federal spending has been climbing steadily since Lyndon Johnson declared war on poverty.

There is no reason to think that a majority of members in the current Congress have the will--or even the desire--to change the budget trajectory. For generations, politicians in Washington have seduced more and more Americans into becoming dependent on handouts and government programs. In turn, these politicians have used the growing ranks of poor, unemployed, and program-dependent citizens as an excuse to expand spending even more.

Sharon Hansen: Get rid of the Federal Reserve and the IRS

• Get rid of the Federal Reserve. These people are destroying our economy and total collapse is not far off. We need to take this out of the hands of a private corporation who has no incentive to do right by the American people. I will work to end the Federal Reserve.
• End the IRS. Taxation without representation was why we had the war with the British King. We have elected representatives but they don't represent us. They should not be rewarded for not doing their jobs. Cut off the flow of funds and they will stop running for office. There are other ways of fairly taxing that are less intrusive. I will work to repeal or reduce the federal income tax.

Michelle Nunn: Make smart short and mid-term investments to drive growth

In order to afford these necessary investments, we have to make tough choices and cut spending. Federal budget deficits and rising debt inhibit our ability to make long-term investments critical to growing our economy, including in education, research, infrastructure, and workforce training. We need to be making decisions now to address the long-term growth of entitlements. We need to make smart short and mid-term investments to drive growth, and make long-term fiscal decisions that will ensure a strong economy and expanded opportunity for the next generation.

Ben Sasse: Reform entitlement programs & live within our means

• Longstanding and essential entitlement programs should be reformed and thereby preserved, while unaffordable, new entitlement programs must be repealed.
• Government should live within its means and should not unfairly shackle one generation with the debts of another.

Jim Rubens: Don't put staggering burden of debt on our grandchildren

The Obama-Shaheen tax hike on the rich plus spending sequestration [will result in 5 years in] annual deficits coming down into the still untenable $400 billion dollar per year range.

By time my son expects to retire in 2062, federal spending will consume over half the output of the entire US economy. Federal debt will amount to 500% of GDP. Just twenty years from now, Social Security and federal medical programs alone will consume over 80% of tax revenues.

Obviously, we cannot expect our children and grandchildren to tolerate these staggering burdens. We cannot wait another six years before transitioning into responsible changes. Politicians as usual will not cut it. Making these changes will require both candidates and elected officials to get really brave and to engage the public in discussion of solution options starting now.

Matt Silverstein: Ban earmarks & cut spending to reduce debt

We need to stop wasting our money on bad investments. Matt agrees that we must permanently ban earmarks. We will never get our fiscal house in order if we follow the advice of career politicians like Jim Inhofe who defend pork barrel politics such as earmarks, which allows every member of Congress to waste our money on their own personal pet projects. Too many politicians, Republicans and Democrats, think big spending is okay as long as it's "their spending" and that has to change.

We'll never get our fiscal house in order with pork barrel politics and Matt will bring a breath of fresh air by attacking the waste, fraud, and abuse that comes from BOTH political parties in Washington DC.

Pat McGeehan: No bank bailout; no carmaker bailout

Bailouts take money from successful business and provides their profits to their inefficient competitors. It is morally and economically wrong in a free-market system.

I never would have voted for the bank bailouts, AIG bailouts, or auto bailouts, as they are unconstitutional, and directly opposed to free-market values.

I will oppose any and all federal bailouts, and instead will fight to balance the budget, to pay down the National Debt and restore the value of the Dollar. It is time our government starts promoting responsibility and stop rewarding failure.

Cory Booker: We will not be able to cut our way out of the jobs crisis

We must act to empower those who are suffering now, removing roadblocks that prevent them and their families from getting back on their feet. Doing that is about more than simply protecting the most vulnerable or those at risk of falling from the middle class into poverty. It means providing help to people who are likely to spend the extra money they have in their paychecks every month--a hand up that will create benefits throughout the economy.

Joe Carr: Spending caps are vital to our nation's survival

Limiting the size of the federal government is key to saving our nation's financial future. We have too many programs, departments and too much bureaucracy. Future generations may fail to enjoy the freedom and prosperity we have due to out-of-control government spending and crushing regulations. A combination of eliminating outdated and redundant programs and departments as well as allowing the private sector to perform certain needed duties will go a long way toward getting our country financially solvent.

Matt Bevin: Wall Street and auto bailouts made us pay for their mistakes

Matt Bevin: Balanced Budget Amendment ends Congress' spending addiction

It is clear we can't trust Congress to follow through on its promise to cut spending "next year" or "next month." It's time for taxpayers to hold our politicians accountable. That's why Matt supports passing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution that will force Congress to balance the budget every year and to keep spending at or below historical spending levels.

Matt will also refuse to vote for a debt limit increase unless we make substantial spending cuts and reforms. This would include having a plan agreed upon by the President and the US Congress that balances the budget in 10 years or less.

Matthew Whitaker: Balance the budget instead of $17 trillion national debt

Owen Hill: Government spending is a tax on work and a tax on jobs

The path forward for America is to return the spending decisions to the States and allow them to compete for the best approach to providing good government for citizens.

Joni Ernst: Break Washington's spending addiction

David Perdue: Cut wasteful spending; eliminate failed government agencies

David Perdue: Support balanced budget amendment and tax reform

Champ Edmunds: The way out of this crisis is to unleash the free market

Montana families are working hard to make ends meet, yet the Federal Government continues to borrow and spend. I have experience balancing budgets and I want to take that experience to Washington with me.

Corey Stapleton: Washington is mortgaging America's children's futures

Karen Handel: Tenacious in balancing budget and dealing with corruption

Jon Roland: Expenditures backed only by debt are unconstitutional

1. This Act may be cited as the 'Spending and Borrowing Reform Act'.
2. FINDINGS: The Congress finds that expenditures backed only by debt are unconstitutional.
3. ENACTMENT:
   • No appropriation or authorization of expenditures or indebtedness, for any department, shall exceed revenues in the form of taxes, fees, or gifts for the current fiscal year, appropriated to that department, except during a declared state of war.
   • No revenue or loan shall be accepted or payment made in a form that is not convertible to a number of megajoules of energy fixed by statute.
   • Upon enactment every budget item shall be set to zero, but with a rule that this act is then open to amendment of each item, in increments not to exceed the equivalent of $1 billion, each of which shall require a recorded vote, with a minimum of two hours between increments of the same budget item, increasing to one week when the total budget shall exceed 80% of projected revenues from taxes.

Jim Oberweis: Massive overspending and over-borrowing crowds out jobs

Massive overspending and over-borrowing by the state government isn't important just because it fuels higher taxes, it's important because it crowds out private investment and makes it difficult for job creators to do their thing. Moreover, the consistent heavy overspending makes the credit rating agencies raise serious questions about our ability to repay all our state borrowing--and that results in lower credit ratings, which translates into higher interest costs for the state's debt service.

Natalie Tennant: Cut Secretary of State's office budget by 20%

FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY: Natalie Tennant has cut the budget in her office by over 20% and returned $3 million to the taxpayers. She is unafraid to cut duplicative programs and waste in the budget.