Federal deficit and national debt

Whether the federal government spends more than it collects, how much it borrows to cover the gap, what the debt costs taxpayers now and later, and whether the Constitution or law should require balanced budgets.

Rein in the deficit and national debt

11 members
Paul Barringer
House · NC-13 · Democrat
“I believe in fiscal discipline and living within our means. Our nation can’t keep borrowing from the future—we need to get serious about spending restraint and work toward a balanced budget.”
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Rebecca Bennett
House · NJ-7 · Democrat
“While Tom Kean Jr. cozies up to groups trying to privatize these programs and gives tax handouts to billionaires, I am going to fight to get our deficit under control and invest in Social Security and Medicare.”
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Bob Brooks
House · PA-7 · Democrat
“The 2017 Trump Tax Cuts and Jobs Act handed massive breaks to billionaires and big corporations, exploding the national debt and leaving working families to pick up the tab. Repealing those giveaways could raise over $1.5 trillion – enough to lower the debt, expand healthcare, and strengthen the safety net without raising taxes on working people.”
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Jake Johnson
House · MN-1 · Democrat
“Jake has a full plan to take on fraud, tackle the national debt, support term limits, and refuse money from Corporate PACs.”
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“It was clear that I am the only candidate in the race that will stop the tariffs and endless wars, take on the ballooning national debt, and invest in our rural clinics and public schools.”
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“This national debt problem that we have is core to the affordability argument, and so it really feels like it’s time to start taking this seriously in a way that politicians from both parties haven’t”
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“As a math teacher, I believe parties have been reckless with the budget and our tax dollars. I’ll support a balanced budget amendment and I’ll vote against raising the debt ceiling until the budget is balanced, so that we finally take the $40+ trillion national debt seriously.”
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Jessica Killin
House · CO-5 · Democrat
“She knows it's time to get the national debt under control and leave a legacy of opportunity for future generations.”
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“In Congress, Jessica will fight to restore fiscal sanity, balance the budget, and pay down the national debt so that we don’t leave our children and grandchildren permanently indebted to China and the rest of the world.”
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Eileen Laubacher
House · CO-4 · Democrat
“Our national debt is crushing us, and we are suffering from a real lack of leadership in Washington when it comes to this problem. I refuse to leave this burden to my children and grandchildren – we need to face this head on and make responsible decisions about where our money goes.”
View on their website ↗
“This debt will crush our country if we don’t act now, get the reckless spending under control, and re-evaluate our tax base to begin paying down this debt in a meaningful way. I refuse to leave this to my children and grandchildren to solve.”
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Matt Little
House · MN-2 · Democrat
“If we allow Medicare to negotiate with big pharma over drug prices, we will lower the deficit and inflation at the same time.”
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“If we manage our federal debt through a balance of economic growth, changes to the tax code, and a more efficient government, we can protect these vital programs and make them stronger for the future.”
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Sean McCann
House · MI-4 · Democrat
“Now, Sean is running for Congress because he knows Washington needs to focus on what matters to regular people – like protecting health care and Medicaid, not cutting it; getting costs down, not exploding the national debt; helping small businesses grow, not giving huge tax breaks to special interests; and letting women make their own health care decisions, instead of politicians making it for them.”
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Denise Powell
House · NE-2 · Democrat
“Responsibly manage our deficits and debts so we leave a stronger, more stable future for the next generation.”
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Janelle Stelson
House · PA-10 · Democrat
“And we must address the national deficit, which has reached $41 trillion under Perry’s leadership. I will prioritize cutting wasteful government spending and make sure your taxpayer dollars are not abused.”
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“Rein in the National Debt and Return to Fiscal Sanity”
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LaKesha Womack
House · NC-14 · Democrat
“Taxpayer dollars must be spent responsibly, transparently, and with measurable community impact to ensure our spending does not create more debt for future generations.”
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Restore fiscal responsibility in Washington

7 members
Paul Barringer
House · NC-13 · Democrat
“I believe in fiscal discipline and living within our means. Our nation can’t keep borrowing from the future—we need to get serious about spending restraint and work toward a balanced budget.”
View on their website ↗
Paige Cognetti
House · PA-8 · Democrat
“We need more fiscal responsibility in Washington, and I’ll bring my red pen with me to Congress.”
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Jessica Killin
House · CO-5 · Democrat
“Restoring Fiscal Responsibility to Congress”
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“In Congress, Jessica will fight to restore fiscal sanity, balance the budget, and pay down the national debt so that we don’t leave our children and grandchildren permanently indebted to China and the rest of the world.”
View on their website ↗
Eileen Laubacher
House · CO-4 · Democrat
“END CORRUPTION. STOP WASTE. RESTORE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.”
View on their website ↗
“Our national debt is crushing us, and we are suffering from a real lack of leadership in Washington when it comes to this problem. I refuse to leave this burden to my children and grandchildren – we need to face this head on and make responsible decisions about where our money goes.”
View on their website ↗
Denise Powell
House · NE-2 · Democrat
“Responsibly manage our deficits and debts so we leave a stronger, more stable future for the next generation.”
View on their website ↗
Janelle Stelson
House · PA-10 · Democrat
“Rein in the National Debt and Return to Fiscal Sanity”
View on their website ↗
LaKesha Womack
House · NC-14 · Democrat
“Taxpayer dollars must be spent responsibly, transparently, and with measurable community impact to ensure our spending does not create more debt for future generations.”
View on their website ↗

Balance the budget so Washington lives within its means

4 members
Paul Barringer
House · NC-13 · Democrat
“I believe in fiscal discipline and living within our means. Our nation can’t keep borrowing from the future—we need to get serious about spending restraint and work toward a balanced budget.”
View on their website ↗
Jake Johnson
House · MN-1 · Democrat
“Jake highlighted his strong commitment to making the federal budget add up.”
View on their website ↗
“The article highlighted Jake’s support for a balanced budget amendment, how he will not vote to raise the debt ceiling until the budget is balanced, and his plans to crack down on government waste, fraud, and abuse.”
View on their website ↗
“As a math teacher, I believe parties have been reckless with the budget and our tax dollars. I’ll support a balanced budget amendment and I’ll vote against raising the debt ceiling until the budget is balanced, so that we finally take the $40+ trillion national debt seriously.”
View on their website ↗
Jessica Killin
House · CO-5 · Democrat
“In Congress, Jessica will fight to restore fiscal sanity, balance the budget, and pay down the national debt so that we don’t leave our children and grandchildren permanently indebted to China and the rest of the world.”
View on their website ↗
Eileen Laubacher
House · CO-4 · Democrat
“Our national debt has surpassed $40 trillion and continues to climb. Retired Rear Admiral Eileen Laubacher recognizes the threat this poses to our country, and she wants voters to know that balancing the budget and bolstering a strong U.S. economy is a top priority for her. In a new ad up on air today, she compares her values to those of Lauren Boebert.”
View on their website ↗

Cut federal spending to reduce the deficit and debt

3 members
Paul Barringer
House · NC-13 · Democrat
“I believe in fiscal discipline and living within our means. Our nation can’t keep borrowing from the future—we need to get serious about spending restraint and work toward a balanced budget.”
View on their website ↗
Eileen Laubacher
House · CO-4 · Democrat
“This debt will crush our country if we don’t act now, get the reckless spending under control, and re-evaluate our tax base to begin paying down this debt in a meaningful way. I refuse to leave this to my children and grandchildren to solve.”
View on their website ↗
Janelle Stelson
House · PA-10 · Democrat
“And we must address the national deficit, which has reached $41 trillion under Perry’s leadership. I will prioritize cutting wasteful government spending and make sure your taxpayer dollars are not abused.”
View on their website ↗

Reduce the debt without cutting Social Security, Medicare or the safety net

3 members
Rebecca Bennett
House · NJ-7 · Democrat
“While Tom Kean Jr. cozies up to groups trying to privatize these programs and gives tax handouts to billionaires, I am going to fight to get our deficit under control and invest in Social Security and Medicare.”
View on their website ↗
Bob Brooks
House · PA-7 · Democrat
“The 2017 Trump Tax Cuts and Jobs Act handed massive breaks to billionaires and big corporations, exploding the national debt and leaving working families to pick up the tab. Repealing those giveaways could raise over $1.5 trillion – enough to lower the debt, expand healthcare, and strengthen the safety net without raising taxes on working people.”
View on their website ↗
Matt Little
House · MN-2 · Democrat
“If we manage our federal debt through a balance of economic growth, changes to the tax code, and a more efficient government, we can protect these vital programs and make them stronger for the future.”
View on their website ↗

Make the wealthy and corporations pay more to cut the debt

2 members
Bob Brooks
House · PA-7 · Democrat
“The 2017 Trump Tax Cuts and Jobs Act handed massive breaks to billionaires and big corporations, exploding the national debt and leaving working families to pick up the tab. Repealing those giveaways could raise over $1.5 trillion – enough to lower the debt, expand healthcare, and strengthen the safety net without raising taxes on working people.”
View on their website ↗
Sam Forstag
House · MT-1 · Democrat
“We can afford to fix big problems in this country, and we don’t have to go deeper into debt to do it. We just need the richest people in this country to carry their own weight, just like the rest of us.”
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Require a balanced federal budget by constitutional amendment or law

1 member
Jake Johnson
House · MN-1 · Democrat
“The article highlighted Jake’s support for a balanced budget amendment, how he will not vote to raise the debt ceiling until the budget is balanced, and his plans to crack down on government waste, fraud, and abuse.”
View on their website ↗
“As a math teacher, I believe parties have been reckless with the budget and our tax dollars. I’ll support a balanced budget amendment and I’ll vote against raising the debt ceiling until the budget is balanced, so that we finally take the $40+ trillion national debt seriously.”
View on their website ↗

Raised the issue without a specific call

2 members
Luke Bronin
House · CT-1 · Democrat
“The tax code is riddled with loopholes that reward wealth over work and allow those at the top to avoid paying what they owe. Meanwhile, working families and small businesses carry the burden, and we’re building up debt at a level that’s going to bankrupt our kids and grandkids.”
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“Why does this matter? Because right now, we’re racking up levels of deficits and debt that are going to crush our economy in the long-run. We’re literally borrowing from our kids to fund loopholes for the ultra-wealthy today.”
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Don Leonard
House · OH-15 · Democrat
“While corporations and billionaires get trade deals, government bailouts and tax breaks, Ohio’s safety nets and public schools get gutted in the name of deficit reduction.”
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