The Casper Star-Tribune: on Budget & Economy

Charlie Hardy: Cut wasteful spending but increase other spending

On June 30, Enzi's campaign sent a press release calling on Wyomingites to support his penny plan bill by signing their names on the website PennyPlanSolution.com. Enzi has introduced and supported the penny plan in the past.

Hardy, in a statement Wednesday, said the penny plan represents laziness. Some programs should be cut more than 1%, and others need more funding, he said. "Instead of facing the problem of wasteful spending in some areas, it simply punishes all programs and the people who are touched by those programs," he said. Hardy believes that programs benefiting veterans, senior citizens and children should receive more attention.

A campaign spokeswoman for Enzi said, "If Congress fails to make those tough decisions, then automatic cuts would be imposed to meet the 1% overall reduction."

Michael Enzi: Penny plan: cut spending 1% a year; balanced budget by 2017

Charlie Hardy, Enzi's Democratic opponent, said the penny plan represents laziness. Some programs should be cut more than 1%, and others need more funding, he said. Hardy believes that programs benefiting veterans, senior citizens and children should receive more attention.

A campaign spokeswoman for Enzi said the national debt is $17.5 trillion, or $55,000 for each US citizen. The penny plan is one in a series of steps to put the country on a fiscally responsible path, she said. "If Congress fails to make those tough decisions, then automatic cuts would be imposed to meet the 1% overall reduction."

Tim Chesnut: #1 problem is nation's $14 trillion debt

A: The No. 1 problem today, he said, is the nation's $14 trillion debt. Chesnut said he wouldn't rule out any potential solutions, from raising the Social Security retirement age to slashing Medicare benefits to raising taxes.