By Congressman Markwayne Mullin
President Biden has officially submitted his budget request to Congress for Fiscal Year 2023. It should come as a surprise to no one that it consists of more reckless spending that will further exacerbate the many crises our country is currently facing. The Biden Administration cannot continue to drive the same economic policy and expect different results.
The president’s budget request should reflect his most important priorities. When judged by this measure, President Biden’s priorities are more taxes and more government. Instead of securing our border, utilizing domestic energy producers, and supporting small businesses, it’s Green New Deal incentives that do nothing to bolster our energy independence and socialist spending that pushes the citizens of our country into full dependence on the federal government. There are zero mentions of “debt crisis” or “inflation crisis,” meanwhile “climate crisis” is mentioned 33 times.
There are $45 billion in taxes on domestic energy production and a 25 percent increase to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) budget. This is despite the fact the EPA has crippled our domestic producers with stifling regulation. I should also mention there are zero plans for new domestic oil and natural gas leases and zero mention of resuming the Keystone Pipeline.
The Director of the Office of Budget and Management Shalanda Young claimed, “the budget is fully paid for.” We’ve heard that before. Just like when the Biden Administration said this the first time, it has been proven untrue.
This budget will spend $73 trillion over the next decade, which would raise the national debt to $45 trillion by 2032. This would shatter the current record of $30 trillion of national debt that was broken during President Biden’s first year. Further, the spending in this budget is 66 percent higher than the average spending over the last 10 years.
The worst part: the hardship it will bring to all Americans. This budget hits families and businesses with $58 trillion in taxes. Our entrepreneurs in Oklahoma will carry this burden. So will our farmers and ranchers, our parents, our teachers, and even the generation after us. The list goes on. No matter who you are, this reckless spending affects you, too.
This is all on top of the fact Americans are already paying over $3500 more a year due to inflation and $1300 more a year for gas. It’s not sustainable.
The president’s top priority should be the American people. For many struggling with record inflation, skyrocketing energy prices, and distrust in our Commander-in-Chief, this budget is an absolute blow. If this is the path we are headed, Americans cannot withstand Washington’s one-party rule.
