Rick Santorum - Debt, Deficit, Spending, and the Size of Government
Last Updated: Jan 04, 2012
Summary
Senator Santorum is a supports a balanced budget amendment. He stated that a balanced budget is neither extreme nor draconian and would return the US to it's nominal spending level of 18%.
During the debt ceiling negotiations of 2011, Senator Santorum opposed the plan put forth to allow President Obama to raise the debt ceiling on his own. He supported the cut, cap, and balance plan put forth by Republicans. He was critical of Republican representatives who stated that the ceiling should not be raised and called that unrealistic and not leading on the issue. He supported the final deal on the debt ceiling, but was stated that it did not go far enough to reign in the budget and did not guarantee a balanced budget amendment.
While in office, Senator Santorum voted on raising the debt ceiling 6 times. Five of those times, he voted in favor of raising the debt ceiling and once he voted against it.
As part of his 2012 spending and economic plan, Senator Santorum proposed a balanced budget with a spending cap, a reduction in non-defense spending, and a spending level freeze.
Commit to cut $5 trillion of federal spending within 5 years.
Implement Strong America Now reform through Lean Six Sigma management process as a key engine for cutting government waste and improving efficiency.
Immediately reduce federal (non-defense discretionary spending) to 2008 levels through across the board spending cuts.
Freeze defense spending levels for 5 years and reject automatic cuts.
Freeze spending levels for social programs for 5 years such as Medicaid, Housing, Education, Job Training, and Food Stamps, time limit restrictions, and block grant to the States like in Welfare Reform.
Pass a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution capping government spending at 18% of GDP so that Congress and the President will need to balance the budget like Governors are required to do.
Politico Article
In June of 2011, Senator Santorum wrote an article for Politico discussing his support for a balanced budget amendment.
The Courage to Balance the Budget
Yogi Berra once made the statement, “It’s déjà vu all over again.” I look at the current budget and debt limit debate and I can’t help but think he was right. It’s just like 1995 all over again, except this time the stakes are much higher.
When I was a freshman senator we came close to passing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. In fact, it was the Republican Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Mark Hatfield, who can be credited with killing the amendment that could have helped us avoid the mess we face today. I led the fight to remove Hatfield as chairman because of his irresponsible vote and was castigated by my Republican colleagues, because that was not how the greatest deliberative body was supposed to behave. My response was that Hatfield’s vote was not how he was suppose to behave as a responsible representative entrusted with protecting the individual liberty of his constituents.
Fast forward to today. After months of inaction and outsourcing the job to Vice President Biden and after months of kicking the can down the road without a responsible deficit reduction plan, the importance of the vote to raise the debt limit still does not inspire seriousness in the president. So it is time for Speaker Boehner and Minority Leader McConnell to learn the lessons of 1995, draw a line in the sand, and not allow a debt ceiling increase to occur unless the Balanced Budget Amendment is also passed.
The ratification of a Balanced Budget Amendment will force future congresses and administrations to not just cut the low-hanging fruit of discretionary spending, but also grab onto the third rail of American politics - entitlements. As Sen. Jim DeMint and I learned in the wake of President Bush’s call for Social Security reform, this will put the crosshairs of your opponents squarely on your back – particularly if your own party does not follow your lead. But a Balanced Budget Amendment will force all parties to come to the table to find solutions to the solvency crisis facing our entitlement programs.
Furthermore, a Balanced Budget Amendment is neither extreme nor draconian. It will take approximately two years to ratify such an amendment and another five years for implementation even if the process were to begin immediately. So we would have time to start putting our fiscal house on a glide-path to order, not jump off a spending cliff and leaving the poor and elderly in the cold. Our representatives only seem to act when a deadline is approaching, and the passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment would start the clock.
Finally the Balanced Budget Amendment would simply return our nation to the historical spending norm of 18% of GDP. This cap on spending should inspire both conservatives and liberals to grow our economy: Conservatives, because we naturally strive for a thriving free-market capitalist economy and liberals because the larger the national GDP, the smaller the necessary cuts – if cuts at all - to the golden calf of the Democratic Party.
As we currently stand, the federal government’s annual spending is nearly one-fourth of GDP. This is a stark contrast to America’s tradition of limited government, a tradition that has allowed our government to focus on the priorities that both preserve and protect who we are as a people and the rights endowed by our Creator. Our Founders’ knew that it was not the job of the government to create new rights through federal fiat, and the Balanced Budget Amendment would rein in this or any future administration from such an aggressive infringement on our founding principles or impair future generations from attaining the American dream of individual liberty.
So to my former colleagues, I ask: Do you have the courage to fight for not just a balanced budget, but for handing off America to your children and grandchildren better than you received it? To those who do – I stand with you and as president I commit to ensuring the Balanced Budget Amendment is ratified as our 28th Amendment.
Support for Cut, Cap, and Balance
In July of 2011, Senator Santorum released a statement noting his support for the passage of cut, cap, and balance through the House.
Santorum Commends House Leaders On The Passage of "Cut, Cap, and Balance"
Verona, PA - Former Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) commends the conservative leadership of the House of Representatives on the passage of the "Cut, Cap, and Balance" legislation:
"I am pleased that the House of Representatives passed the reasonable and responsible 'Cut, Cap, and Balance' legislation to bring fiscal sanity back to Washington. I commend the Republicans in the House who had the courage to take this important step towards getting our fiscal house in order and I urge the Senate to follow the House's lead. The time for posturing and rhetoric has passed, now is the time for the leadership the American people deserve from their representatives."
Senator Santorum was among the first presidential contenders to sign the "Cut, Cap, and Balance" Pledge that focuses on cutting and capping government spending, and passing a Balanced Budget Amendment to our Constitution. Senator Santorum has long been a defender of the Balanced Budget Amendment, with it being among the first bills he ever cosponsored in the United States Senate in 1995.
Debt Ceiling Agreement
In July of 2011, Senator Santorum released a press statement urging Republican leaders to stand firm and resist efforts to raise taxes or raise the debt ceiling limit without guaranteeing a balanced budget in the future. In August, the Senator released another statement noting his disappointment that the plan did not go further in ensuring debt reduction.
Santorum Comments on Debt Limit Negotiations
Urges Republican Leadership to Hold Firm
Verona, PA - Former Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) made the following statement upon the conclusion of Sunday evening's meeting between President Obama and Congressional Leadership regarding the nation's debt limit.
"I urge Speaker Boehner and Minority Leader McConnell to stand fast against attempts by President Obama and Congressional Democrats to use the debt limit vote as a vehicle to raise taxes," said Senator Santorum. "This is a real opportunity for our nation's leaders to come together, cut and cap government spending, and, most importantly, pass a Balanced Budget Amendment to our Constitution so that we never have to raise our nation's debt limit again."
Santorum Statement on Debt Ceiling Agreement
Des Moines, IA - Former Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) made the following statement regarding the agreement reached by Congressional Democrats and Republicans and the White House to raise the debt ceiling:
"I commend Speaker Boehner, Leader McConnell, and the conservative leadership for moving the ball in the right direction," said Senator Santorum. "Unfortunately, this deal does not go far enough and it is not one that would have been made by a Santorum Administration because it does not accomplish the necessary goal of balancing the budget. It is also disappointing that those members of congress who want to be our president were not leaders in the legislature to advance the conservative cause. As president, I will be committed to passing a Balanced Budget Amendment to once and for all ensure we never again put our nation's fiscal health in jeopardy."
Fox News Appearance
In August of 2011, Senator Santorum appeared on Fox News and discussed the debt ceiling. He opposes proposals from Senator McConnel to allow President Obama to raise the debt ceiling on his own, he supports cut, cap, and balance, and he supports a balanced budget amendment.
Iowa Debate
In August of 2011, Senator Santiorum participated in the Republican Presidential debate in Ames, Iowa. He spoke about recent actions taken by Republicans in office to prevent the increase of the debt ceiling to force spending cuts. Senator Santorum stated that it was showmanship and not leadership to state that you would vote against the debt ceiling increase.
QUESTION: Thank you. Senator Santorum, I've got one for you. You said that you were, quote, the Tea Party before there was a Tea Party. But a top Tea Party goal, particularly in Iowa, is to revert back to the gold standard, something you oppose. How do you consider yourself in line with the Tea Party without agreeing on this major issue?
SANTORUM: Well first off, I didn't say that the Washington Post said it. I simply commented on what they said. I don't take the claim, the Tea Party organization is flat and it should stay that way. It should support ideas not candidates. And people who stand up and say they lead it, well, I think most of the Tea Party people think their leadership is among the people not anybody is a member of congress or anywhere else.
What I've said is that I agree with Newt. I think there's some reforms we can do at the Fed. And I agree we need to audit the Fed. Disagree with most of what Ron Paul said. Just because he's mostly wrong, doesn't mean he's always wrong.(BOOING)
SANTORUM: I appreciate his contribution in that regard.
I want to talk about, because I didn't get a chance to comment on this debt ceiling. But Congressman Paul and Congresswoman Bachmann both in the congress, and they had an opportunity to lead. They're asking you have them lead this country, and they couldn't lead the congress to do something responsible in making sure that we didn't have the fiasco that we have in place now.
We should have balanced the budget. The balanced budget amendment should have been the focus from the beginning. To suggest that we never need to raise the debt ceiling, that -- that is, again, showmanship, not leadership. Of course we have to raise the debt ceiling at some point.
We have -- we have -- we're borrowing 42 cents of every dollar, 42 cents of every dollar. You're going to cut 42 cents of every dollar? Just to remind you, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, defense, and interest on the debt is 60 percent. That means cut everything else and something of those. That's showmanship, not leadership. (APPLAUSE)
CNN National Security Debate
On November 22, 2011 Senator Santorum participated in the CNN national security debate. He notes his views on compromising on issues and specifically on taxes and spending.
BLITZER: Let me bring Senator Santorum into this, because I covered Ronald Reagan's presidency. And, as you know -- and I'll read a quote. He wrote in his autobiography this: "If you got 75 of 80 percent of what you were asking for, I say you take it and fight for the rest later."
If you got 75 percent or 80 percent of what you wanted, would you make a deal with Democrats, increase some taxes in order to move on and fight the next battle the next day?
SANTORUM: It all depends on what the 75 percent and 85 percent is. If the -- if the things that you have to give up make what you're trying to accomplish harder to do -- in other words, reduce the deficit, what the Republicans -- why the Republicans are drawing a line in the sand, rightfully so, it's because what they're -- what the Democrats are attempting to do is increase taxes, which will slow down to the -- this economy, which will increase the deficit, reduce tax revenues, ultimately, and -- and increase government payments.
So you don't work against yourself. You -- you won't -- you -- you take ideas from the other side that you may not find particularly valuable, like spending cuts that you may not want. There are spending cuts that I would like to, you know, I mean there's things that it mentioned before, that I would stand -- stand firm on.
But in a compromise, yes, you do give up some things that you think maybe are critical spending. But you don't undermine the ability of this con -- economy to grow because of politics. This president has poisoned the well. He's campaigned all over this country, trying to divide group from group in order to -- to -- to win, you know, to -- to position himself to win this election and rally his troops. And what he's done is poisoned the well here in Congress.
I've worked together, I've got a long track record of bipartisan accomplishments where I kept to the principles. I use welfare reform as an example. Welfare reform, I stuck to my principles. We cut the welfare budget. We had -- we had time limits. We block granted to the states and we put a work requirement.
Did I compromise on things?
Yes. I compromised on some -- on some child care. I compromised on -- on some transportation.
So I got 75 percent. But it 100 percent changed the welfare system because we...
BLITZER: Thank you.
SANTORUM: -- stuck to our principles.
2012 Presidential Campaign Statements
RESTORING AMERICA’S GREATNESS PROMOTING FREEDOM AND OPPORTUNITY
Reining in Spending and Reforming Government Entitlements for Sustainable and Better Solutions for America’s Families and Future
Living Within Our Means: Cutting $5 trillion over 5 years
Spending Core Principles
Live within our means so that America, our families, and our future generations will have a brighter future unburdened with oppressive debt and high taxation.
Prioritize our national security and defense
Refocus the federal government on constitutional priorities and parameters
Consolidate duplicative programs and agencies
Promote competition for provision of essential services
Eliminate outdated, ineffective, and wasteful programs
Empower State and Local Governments through partnership, block grants, and reserving functions for the States
Reform and Modernize Medicare since reducing healthcare costs is a prerequisite for our long term success and economic strength
Reforming Social Security which is essential for solvency, sustainability, and real retirement security
Proposals
Commit to cut $5 trillion of federal spending within 5 years.
Implement Strong America Now reform through Lean Six Sigma management process as a key engine for cutting government waste and improving efficiency.
Immediately reduce federal (non-defense discretionary spending) to 2008 levels through across the board spending cuts.
Freeze defense spending levels for 5 years and reject automatic cuts.
Freeze spending levels for social programs for 5 years such as Medicaid, Housing, Education, Job Training, and Food Stamps, time limit restrictions, and block grant to the States like in Welfare Reform.
Repeal and Replace ObamaCare with market based healthcare innovation and competition to improve America’s and Americans health, control costs, improve quality and access, and to keep and create jobs which provide resources for healthcare.
Pass a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution capping government spending at 18% of GDP so that Congress and the President will need to balance the budget like Governors are required to do.
Pass legislation to reform the Congressional Budget Process and support legislation to require Congress to pass constitutionally required spending bills on time or not get paid the next fiscal year.
Implement Medicare Reforms and Innovation proposed by Congressman Paul Ryan and speed up their implementation to control healthcare costs and improve quality.
Reform Social Security and place on a sustainable path by a combination of reforms such as addressing adjusting CPI, dependent benefits and disability income benefits reforms, moving back the retirement age for younger workers, means testing benefits, annual adjustments as needed, and dedicating Social Security payroll taxes to Social Security.
Implement reforms and cost savings of up to $100 billion in March 2011 GAO report requested by Senator Coburn listing 34 areas of duplication and waste.
Stop implementation of any remaining federal stimulus spending.
Freeze pay for non-defense related federal employees for four years, cut workforce by 10% with no compensatory increase in contract workforce, and phase out defined benefit plans for newer workers.
Eliminate all energy subsidies and most agriculture subsidies within four years.
Eliminate funding for Planned Parenthood and use half of the dollars to support adoption instead.
Cut EPA resources for job killing regulations and return focus to commonsense conservation and safe and clean air and water.
Cut in half the number of State Department USAID employees and US funding for United Nations programs.
Eliminate funding for implementation of Dodd/Frank regulatory burdens.
Eliminate funding for implementation of ObamaCare.
Cut funding for National Labor Relations Board for decision preventing airplane factory in South Carolina.
Eliminating funding for United Nations’ agencies which oppose America’s interests and promote abortion and cut the US contribution to the UN in half.
Phase out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac within five years.
Sell unproductive and wasteful federal properties.
Transition Team will review all spending cut proposals and restructuring reforms of the Heritage Foundation, CATO Institute, American Enterprise Institute, and the Simpson-Bowles Commission for additional savings.
Voting Record
Debt Ceiling Increase to $8.965 trillion
In March of 2006, the Senate passed H J Res 47 to increase the debt ceiling to $8.965 trillion. The measure passed 52-48. Rick Santorum voted in favor of increasing the debt ceiling to $8.965 trillion.
Rick Santorum voted in favor of increasing the debt ceiling to $8.965 trillion.
Debt Ceiling Increase to $8.184 trillion
In November of 2004, the Senate passed legislation to increase the debt ceiling to $8.184 trillion. The legislation passed 52-44. Rick Santorum voted in favor of increasing the debt ceiling to $8.184 trillion.
Rick Santorum voted in favor of increasing the debt ceiling to $8.184 trillion.
Debt Ceiling Increase to $7.384 trillion
In May of 2003, the Senate passed a budget that contained an increase in the debt ceiling to $7.384 trillion. This measure passed the House 53-44. Rick Santorum voted in favor of increasing the debt ceiling to $7.384 trillion.
Rick Santorum voted in favor of increasing the debt ceiling to $7.384 trillion.
Debt Ceiling Increase to $6.4 trillion
In June of 2002, the Senate voted to pass legislation to enact an increase to the debt ceiling to $6.4 trillion. The measure passed 68-29. Rick Santorum voted in favor of the debt ceiling increase to $6.4 trillion.
Rick Santorum voted in favor of the debt ceiling increase to $6.4 trillion.
Balanced Budget Act - Debt Ceiling Increase to $5.95 trillion
In June of 1997, the Senate passed the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. This legislation included an increase in the debt ceiling to $5.95 trillion and a line item veto for the President which was later ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. The measure passed the Senate 85-15. Rick Santorum voted in favor of this legislation, which included an increase in the debt ceiling to $5.95 trillion.
Rick Santorum voted in favor of this legislation, which included an increase in the debt ceiling to $5.95 trillion.
Debt Ceiling Increase to $4.37 trillion
On April 1, 1993 the House voted in favor of increasing the debt ceiling to $4.37 trillion 237-177. The legislation was not voted on in the Senate, but passed through unanimously. Rick Santorum voted against increasing the debt ceiling to $4.37 trillion.
Rick Santorum voted against increasing the debt ceiling to $4.37 trillion.
Requires a balanced Federal budget, unless a three-fifths roll call vote of both Houses of Congress provides for a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Prohibits an increase in the public debt limit except by a three-fifths roll call vote by both Houses of Congress. Requires the President to submit a balanced budget to the Congress. Prohibits any bill increasing revenue from becoming law unless approved by a majority roll call vote of both Houses.
Prohibits outlays for a fiscal year (except those for repayment of debt principal) from exceeding total receipts (except those derived from borrowing) for that fiscal year unless the Congress, by a three-fifths roll call vote of each House, authorizes a specific excess of outlays over receipts. Requires a three-fifths roll call vote of each House to increase the public debt. Directs the President to submit a balanced budget to the Congress. Requires the approval of a majority of each House by roll call vote before any bill to increase revenue may become law. Authorizes the Congress to waive these provisions when: (1) a declaration of war is in effect; or (2) the United States is engaged in a military conflict which poses a threat to national security as declared by a joint resolution adopted by a majority of each House. Makes this article effective beginning with FY 2002 or with the second fiscal year beginning after its ratification, whichever is later.
Amends the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (CBA) to revise the Federal and congressional budget processes by establishing a two-year budgeting and appropriations cycle and timetable. Defines the budget biennium as the two consecutive fiscal years beginning on October 1 of any odd-numbered year. Sets forth a special timetable for any first session that begins in any year immediately following a leap year and during which the term of a President begins (except one who starts a second successive term).
