Balancing the budget and concern over debt unite Oklahomans

The national debt currently stands at over $14.7 trillion, and that sum causes great concern to Oklahomans, regardless of political affiliation. By the same token, an overwhelming majority of Oklahomans support a constitutional amendment to require a balanced federal budget.

SoonerPoll recently conducted a survey that asked respondents’ thoughts on the national debt, and on a balanced budget amendment, and I think you’ll find the results to be interesting.

Click here to read the rest of my column and poll analysis at SoonerPoll.com.

Faught in support of federal Balanced Budget Amendment

Faught joins state legislators in support of federal Balanced Budget Amendment

Muskogee, OK – State Rep. George Faught (R-Muskogee) has joined more than 40 other state lawmakers in pledging support of the proposed Balanced Budget Amendment.  Faught, who recently launched his candidacy for Congress, becomes the first 2nd District congressional candidate to announce his support of the plan to reverse the country’s dramatic slide into debt.

“I am proud to join many of my legislative colleagues in support of the proposed Balanced Budget Amendment. If this amendment passes Congress, I look forward to Oklahoma taking the lead in ratifying the amendment,” Faught said.  “I have always believed that government must live within a budget, much like how I operate my carpet cleaning business, or how we all do as families.”

The Oklahoma state lawmakers sent a letter to all congressional sponsors of the bill, which is under consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Faught, who this week was reported by the Congressional Quarterly as the GOP’s likely nominee for the 2nd Congressional District seat being vacated by Congressman Dan Boren, further said, “I am publicly pledging that if chosen by the people of Oklahoma’s 2nd District to represent them in Congress, I will fight to balance the budget, and restore fiscal responsibility to Washington.  I will not stand by and watch the destruction of our children's and grandchildren’s futures through the irresponsible spending by both Democrats and Republicans. Overspending has put our nation $14 trillion into debt, and it is time Washington was forced to address the problem.”

George Faught was the first Republican elected to represent Oklahoma House District 14. Faught and his wife, Becky, have been married for nearly 29 years. They live in Muskogee and have three grown children, Tyler, Jamison and Savannah. They operate a family-owned carpet cleaning business that has been serving communities in eastern Oklahoma for the past 24 years.

For more information, please visit Faught’s website at www.GeorgeFaught.com, and follow him on Twitter at @GeorgeFaught and on Facebook at facebook.com/GeorgeFaught. To contact by phone, call (918) 682-8383, and by email at info@georgefaught.com.

AFP visiting Boren to push for Balanced Budget Amendment

Americans for Prosperity Activists Push for 

Balanced Budget Amendment

-Grassroots visits Representative Boren’s district offices urging spending cuts-

Muskogee — We Need Congressman Dan Boren to Support a Balanced Budget!  Oklahoma families understand that they must balance their budgets. Politicians in Washington, DC don’t.  That’s why AFP supports a Balanced Budget Amendment.

This Thursday, July 14th, we are asking you to visit Congressman Dan Boren’s district offices and encourage him to support a Balanced Budget Amendment. Take 15 minutes out of your day and make a difference!

The Oklahoma chapter of the free market grassroots group Americans for Prosperity will join a huge coalition of conservative and tea party organizations in a nationwide effort to visit U.S. House Members’ district offices.  The grassroots message this coalition will carry is that representatives must support a balanced budget amendment to U.S. Constitution that has spending caps and a requirement for a supermajority vote to raise taxes.  

“Our grassroots are really worked up about the need for this balanced budget amendment, with tough limits on spending and taxes.  State and local governments all need to work each year to bring their books into order and it’s long past time that the federal government take similar steps,” said Oklahoma State Director Stuart Jolly.  “We’re going to visit Congressman Boren’s district offices because he needs to know how important this amendment is to free market grassroots activists all across this country.”

What: National District Office Day on the Balanced Budget Amendment
When: Thursday, July 14, 2011 at 12:00 Noon.
Who: Americans for Prosperity Grassroots Activists (open to all!)
Where:

1. Muskogee Office, 431 W. Broadway, Muskogee, OK 74401, (918) 687-2533
2. Claremore Office, 309 W. 1st Street, Claremore, OK 74017, (918) 341-9336
3. McAlester Office, 25 East Carl Albert Parkway, Suite B, McAlester, OK 74501, (918) 423-5951
4. Durant Office, 112 N. 12th Avenue, Durant, OK 74701, (580) 931-0333

The national day of district office visits comes just days before the U.S. House will vote on the Balanced Budget Amendment.  Next week, the U.S. House will vote on H.J. Res. 1, offered by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R.-Va.), which has received widespread conservative support.

H.J. Res. 1 requires:

• Revenues to match outlays
• Limit spending to 18 percent of GDP
• Supermajority vote in Congress to raise taxes
• Supermajority vote in Congress to raise the debt ceiling
• The President must submit a budget to Congress that balances
• Several other important provisions

See you at one of the offices list below on Thursday!


Stuart A. Jolly
Oklahoma State Director
Americans for Prosperity
LTC, US Army (Ret)

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best way to safeguard individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. AFP has more than 1.7 million members, including members in all 50 states, and 31 state chapters and affiliates. More than 85,000 Americans in all 50 states have made a financial investment in AFP or AFP Foundation. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org