April 12, 2006
U.S. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer Decries Federal Deficit at NCSL Spring Forum
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The federal government is pursuing "the most fiscally irresponsible policies in the history of America," U.S. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer told attendees at the opening session of the National Conference of State Legislatures' Spring Forum.
"It will affect every one of your states, every one of your cities, every one of your counties, every one of our corporations--large and small--and every one of our workers," Hoyer said. "... Even the richest nation on Earth can't sustain these policies for long."
He said the national debt is at $9 trillion, or $30,000 for every American.
Hoyer is a former Maryland state senator who has served in Congress for 26 years. He empathized with state legislators who are finding themselves hamstrung by more and more unfunded federal mandates as Congress sends fewer dollars to states. Hoyer named No Child Left Behind and Medicaid as problem programs.
"No Child Left Behind, as all of you know, is probably one of the largest unfunded mandates that has been passed in recent times. You're struggling with that bill. I supported that bill and support very strongly its concept," Hoyer said. "And I believe we should be giving you the resources that we promised you in order to meet the standards and the accountability that we mandated."
On healthcare, he said, "We're breaking your back with Medicaid. We ought to be addressing that. We’re not doing it in an effective way. ... While you have some options, none of them are particularly good."
Hoyer, a Democrat, compared current federal budget proposals. He supports his party's version that he said includes pay-as-you-go provisions that would eventually require the spending plan to be balanced, as states require their budgets to be.
The Congressman urged state lawmakers to watch federal budget negotiations unfold, because the federal budget has ripple effects. And while praising the state of Massachusetts for its recent passage of a bill to cover or require health coverage for nearly all state residents, Hoyer told states to keep their creative spirits alive.
"In many respects, you are, in fact, not only the laboratories, but the teachers of us at the federal level, because when you adopt a successful program to deal with one of these critical problems, and it works, I guarantee that we at the federal level will look at your ideas--look at your solutions, and try to apply them."
Several Republican legislators interviewed after Hoyer's talk described it as "political," and "partisan." But they agree with his call for belt-tightening.
Virginia Senator Emmett Hanger, a Republican, believes that his party is "vulnerable" these days because of the nation's fiscal state.
"We've been overtaken by the anti-tax individuals whose basic message has taken the focus away from a core principle of the Republican party--fiscal responsibility. Fiscal responsibility is broader than anti-tax, though. It's about balanced budgets," Hanger said.
Utah Representative David Clark sees room for improved financial management. "I think Hoyer's message on being fiscally responsible was right on," Clark said.
But what can state legislators do about federal debt? Clark suggests they air their complaints to their Congress members.
"Our form of government was not intended to be anything but participatory," Clark said. "We need to let them know what our concerns are and what our solutions are."
Hoyer says he's listening.
"Because our country has such significant problems, we need to come together, as Republicans and Democrats, as conservatives and liberals, and address the serious problems that our people have," he said.
"The greatest nation on the face of the earth can solve every problem that confronts it at the federal level, at the state level and at the local level ... if we have the will and the courage to present to our constituents with the real alternatives. There is no free lunch."
NCSL is the bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the states, commonwealths and territories. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system.
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