A Simple Path to Balance the Federal Budget: An Interview with Rep. Connie Mack

Breitbart Big Government ^ | Posted Aug 10th 201 | Dr. Susan Berry

[clove]

Congressman Connie Mack did not vote to raise the debt ceiling before the August recess. He was looking for a long-term solution to the nation’s deficits, which are leading to unsustainable debt.

After working with some grass-roots groups, Mr. Mack designed the “One Percent Spending Reduction Act,” or, the “Mack Penny Plan,” which, he says, will cut and cap federal spending, and balance the federal budget in eight years.

In short, the “Mack Penny Plan” would:

• Cut federal spending by 1% each year for 6 years • Cap spending at 18% of GDP in the 7th year • Balance the federal budget in the 8th year • Save taxpayers $7.5 trillion over 10 years

“What’s different about this plan,” the Florida congressman says, “is that it’s pretty simple. We freeze spending at the 2011 level- about $3.6 trillion- and cut 1% of spending for six years- that’s one penny out of every dollar. Everyone has had to cut at least one penny out of every dollar, whether in family or business budgets, so that’s not too hard for the federal government to do.”

According to Congressman Mack, the 1% spending cuts would be made in both mandatory and discretionary spending, and would be realized in either of two ways: 1) Congress and the President work together to enact program reforms and cut federal spending by 1% each year; or 2) If Congress and the President fail to do so, the bill triggers automatic, across-the- board spending cuts to ensure the 1% spending reduction is achieved.

[Retired Greyhound]

It’s unbelievable how simple this is, and yet, there is no political will to do it, ON EITHER SIDE.

This plan should be an acid test for all 2012 candidates.

[mongo141]

Good Idea, However it will never happen,those fools in the District of Criminals like to buy votes with our money way too much. My father told me many years ago that a politicians first duty is to get elected and the second is to get reelected and NOTHING ELSE matters!

[Hillary'sMoralVoid]

What we need more than anything is STABILITY!!! The markets are fluctuating wildly on rumor and innuendo because there really isn’t a long-term, consistent plan in place.

The Mack Penny Plan should be implemented everywhere in gov’t including all outlays, entitlements included. Everyone knows what they WILL BE getting, Defense, Education, Homeland Security, everyone is treated the same. EQUAL SACRIFICE!

[FromTheSidelines]

What we need more than anything is STABILITY!!! The markets are fluctuating wildly on rumor and innuendo because there really isn’t a long-term, consistent plan in place.

Maybe we can ask Harry Reid to finally - after 830 days - take up a budget? I bet that had as much to do with the S&P downgrade as the "debt ceiling debate" - no long term budget plan for the US (even a 1 year plan) makes it hard to build confidence in the future.

[Sergio]

I’m waiting for a pol to say that a 1% reduction is bad, that it can’t be done, that it will gut needed services, to whick I will reply, “But you want to raise my taxes by more than 1%!”

[Principled]

this is the best plan out there no doubt.

i suppose much of its attractiveness is that cuts [actual cuts] are small and will not run into too much opposition considering our situation.

but i wish we wouldn’t freeze spending at 2011 levels. That’s too high imo.

and if we continue to spend 3.7 T annually but only bring in 2.2 T, we’re still borrowing a lot. 8 T more in 6 years.

But it’s a start. It’s a major, strong move in the right direction.

I’m sure some on here will say this takes the debt up to 25 T! You’re a rino! don’t compromise like that!