United States Senator Mike Enzi

Five budgets step up to the plate

Tue, 15 May 2012 05:15:00 EST

Senate to consider budget plans this week...

2012 Thomas Jefferson Award

Tue, 15 May 2012 01:00:00 EST

International Foodservice Distributors Association

How bad is it?

Fri, 11 May 2012 03:30:00 EST

America's debt crisis in perspective...

Find bipartisan student loan fix by sending bills to committee

Wed, 09 May 2012 05:30:00 EST

During a debate today on addressing rising student loan interest rates, U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., Ranking Member on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, said if the Senate was serious about finding bipartisan solutions to the student loan issue, its leaders should send legislation through committees to get a bill everyone could agree on.

Click here to watch Senator Enzi’s statement on the student loan issue.

Reduce student loan rates by sacrificing future jobs?

Mon, 07 May 2012 06:45:00 EST

During a debate today on addressing rising student loan interest rates, U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., Ranking Member on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, was disappointed that the President and Senate majority would pay for lowered student loan interest rates by reducing job opportunities for students once they graduate.

“Rather than increasing taxes on small engineering and accounting firms, we should be encouraging these businesses to hire new employees,” said Enzi. “As a former small businessman, I know this will not happen if we raise taxes on the very businesses we depend upon to turn the labor market around.”

Enzi noted that in Wyoming, the small businesses that would be affected by this new tax are family owned and are an integral part of the state’s economy. In fact, small businesses accounted for 65 percent of the nation’s 15 million jobs created between 1993 and 2009.

The Republican alternative bill would take money from a health care slush fund, which President Obama has previously used to fund other projects, to pay for the one year extension of the lower student loan rate.

Enzi cautioned that legislation should go through the committee process in order to produce a bipartisan bill.

“There is no reason we should be having this debate today. Freezing student loan interest rates for one year is something we all agree on and should be relatively simple to accomplish,” Enzi said.

Click here to watch a clip from the debate.

June 5 deadline for Enzi U.S. Senate Fall 2012 Page Position application

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 05:15:00 EST

U.S. Senator Mike Enzi is encouraging Wyoming juniors in high school to apply to be a Senate Page for the fall session in Washington, DC.

The deadline for fall applications is June 5.

“The page program allows students to have a front row seat during debates in the U.S. Senate,” Enzi said. “The program will provide experiences that participants will carry with them forever.”

Page duties consist primarily of delivering correspondence and legislative material at the Capitol. Other duties include preparing the Senate chamber for sessions and carrying bills and amendments to the appropriate people on the Senate floor.

Pages attend classes at the Senate Page School until 9:45 a.m. and then work until 4:00 p.m. or until the Senate adjourns for the day. The Senate Page School provides the necessary requisites for a junior year course of study.

Fall Page eligibility is limited to juniors in high school who will be 16 or 17 years old on or before the date of appointment. Applicants must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0.

Pages live in Webster Hall located near the Capitol and receive a stipend to cover the cost of the residence. Breakfast and dinner are provided daily.

The fall session runs from September 10, 2012 – January 25, 2013. Applications and additional information can be found by going to www.enzi.senate.gov. Further questions can be directed to Dianne Kirkbride in Senator Enzi’s Cheyenne office at 307-772-2477 or Dianne_Kirkbride@enzi.senate.gov.

Another anniversary of failed leadership

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 05:00:00 EST

Sunday marks three years since Senate majority passed a budget...

Cut a penny, balance the budget in 5 years

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 03:00:00 EST

Enzi details ‘penny plan’ in speech before Mercatus Center...

Enzi, Barrasso on Labor Department decision to withdraw youth farm rule

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 01:15:00 EST

U.S. Senators Mike Enzi and John Barrasso, both R-Wyo., released the following statements regarding the Department of Labor’s (DOL) decision to withdraw its controversial proposed restrictions on youth working on family farms.

“If the Administration follows through on its promise to not pursue these rules, this is a win for agriculture and the traditions of rural America,” said Enzi. “The federal government has no place telling families how they can raise their children on the farm. Wyoming ranchers and farmers stood up to Washington’s overreach and their voices were heard.”

“It’s clear that the only reason the Obama Administration canceled this absurd rule is because of the President’s upcoming election. The fact that the Administration even proposed it in the first place shows how out of touch they are with hard working family farms across the country and their way of life,” said Barrasso. “This rule would have also threatened successful farm safety training and certification programs like 4-H, Extension Service, and FFA. In order to protect Wyoming’s rural values and ensure the future of our agricultural communities, I will fight to make sure this rule is never finalized. We cannot back down against Washington’s continued efforts to control our lives and change our values.”

Last year, DOL Secretary Hilda Solis proposed rules that would have restricted family farm operations by prohibiting youth under the age of 18 from being near certain age animals without adult supervision, participating in common livestock practices such as vaccinating and hoof trimming, or handling most animals more than six months old, which would severely limit participation in 4-H and FFA activities and restrict their youth farm safety classes. The rules would have prohibited youth from operating farm machinery over 20 PTO horsepower, completing tasks at elevations over six feet high, and working at stockyards and grain and feed facilities. The language of the proposed rule was so specific it would even ban youth from operating a battery powered screwdriver or a pressurized garden hose.

In March of this year, Enzi and Barrasso joined 36 of their colleagues in introducing the Preserving America’s Family Farm Act, to prevent the Department of Labor (DOL) from enacting its controversial proposed restrictions on youth working on family farms.

In December of last year, a group of 30 Senators, including Enzi and Barrasso, sent a letter to Secretary Solis requesting that the proposed rule be withdrawn and outlined numerous concerns.

Enzi Mercatus Center Speech on the Penny Plan

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:30:00 EST

Speech by Senator Mike Enzi

At the Mercatus Center Luncheon

April 24, 2012

I appreciate the opportunity to join you today. I want to begin by thanking the Mercatus Center for hosting this lunch and members of the distinguished panel for making the time to be here to discuss the most important issue facing our country: what to do about our national debt, which is fast approaching $16 trillion.

I also want to thank those of you who have joined us to be a part of this discussion. Everyone in Washington should be engaged in a serious conversation about how we can get our debt and deficit in check.

There are a variety of options on the table, but one thing is clear: we are spending too much money and borrowing too much money. In fiscal year 2011, the government brought in slightly more than $2.3 trillion in revenue. At the same time we collected $2.3 trillion, we spent about $3.6 trillion. In other words, we overspent by $1.3 trillion. That’s an astonishing amount of spending, at a level that cannot be sustained.

In 1997, when I came to Washington, our national debt was $5.4 trillion. Today, it is nearly $16 trillion, which means that every man, woman, and child’s share of the debt is just under $50,000.

What will happen if we don’t act and cut spending? We won’t be able to afford the military we need. People won’t get their Social Security checks. Roads won’t be fixed. All our money will go toward paying the interest on the debt. People shouldn’t doubt this is real. There were riots in the streets in Greece when their government was forced to face the realities of debt. I have news for you; our debt per person is more than Greece’s debt per person.

I understand that today’s speakers will focus on a variety of budget options. I appreciate that there are a number of plans out there to get our country back on track financially and I applaud anyone who is willing to take a serious look at cutting spending. I want to focus for a few minutes on legislation that Congressman Mack and I have introduced to cut spending by one percent.

Our legislation, which is sometimes called the Penny Plan, would require the federal government to cut spending by 1 percent each year for five years, and then cap spending at 18 percent of the economy, which has been the average level of revenue coming into the federal coffers since World War II. These simple steps would lead to $6.1 trillion in spending cuts and a balanced budget in fiscal year 2017.

The plan doesn’t mandate any specific cuts. Congress could decide to cut one penny from every single program – to ensure that everyone has to sacrifice at some level. Conversely, Congress has the option to make larger cuts from some areas and smaller cuts from others. What’s important is that the plan puts in place a framework to cut spending and balance our budget.

The plan also doesn’t raise taxes. We can all agree that we need to have a discussion about taxes in the context of tax reform that will make America more competitive. However, when it comes to deficit reduction, the real key is a reduction in spending. We’ve got more government now than ever in our history. We can’t afford it and I would argue we don’t need a lot of it.

We are told by some naysayers that the plan would require draconian cuts. I don’t see how that is the case. Most businesses across the country could find a way to reduce spending by 1 percent if necessary. Most families could find a way to spend one penny less out of every dollar if they were facing a financial crisis. The federal government spent $3.6 trillion last year. It doesn’t make any sense to me that we can’t work together to find 1 percent of the budget to cut from when the stakes are so high and the result would improve the future outlook of the country significantly.

Once again, I thank the Mercatus Center for hosting this important event. It will provide an opportunity to debate the important budgetary challenges we face, and I thank you for attending today’s event.

Faster, safer access to new medicines and devices one step closer to passage

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 06:00:00 EST

Committee passes reauthorization of FDA user fees with strong bipartisan support...

Enzi statement for Finance Committee hearing on State and Local Tax and Fiscal Policy

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 05:30:00 EST

Statement for the Senate Finance Committee Hearing:

“Tax Reform: What It Means for State and Local Tax and Fiscal Policy”

U.S. Senator Michael B. Enzi

April 25, 2012

Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding this hearing focusing on how tax reform could possibly affect state and local tax and fiscal policy. I truly appreciate yours and Senator Hatch’s interest in hosting this hearing today. and allowing an open discussion in this Committee about the merits of my bill, S. 1832, The Marketplace Fairness Act.

The Marketplace Fairness Act was written in the aftermath of the Supreme Court's 1992 Quill decision. Congressional involvement is necessary because the ruling stated that the thousands of different state and local sales tax rules were too complicated and onerous to require businesses to collect sales taxes unless they had a physical presence (store, warehouse, etc.) in the purchaser’s home state. The Supreme Court essentially “invited” the Congress to decide how to move forward.

I strongly believe that now is the time for Congress to act. Many Americans do not realize that when they buy something online or order something from a catalog from a business outside of their own State that they still owe the State sales tax. For over a decade, Congress has been debating how to best allow states to collect sales taxes from online retailers in a way that puts Main Street businesses on a level playing field with online retailers. The Marketplace Fairness Act empowers states to make the decision themselves. If they choose to collect already existing sales taxes on all purchases, regardless of whether the sale was online or in store, they can. If they want to keep things the way they are, it’s a state’s choice.

I have been working on this sales tax fairness issue since joining the U.S. Senate in 1997. As a former small business owner, it is important to level the playing field for all retailers – in-store, catalog, and online – so an outdated rule for sales tax collection does not adversely impact small businesses and Main Street retailers. On November 9, 2011, Senator Durbin, Senator Alexander, Senator Tim Johnson and I introduced – with six of our other colleagues - the Marketplace Fairness Act to close the 20-year loophole that distorts the American marketplace by picking winners and losers, by subsidizing some businesses at the expense of other businesses, and subsidizing taxpayers at the expense of other taxpayers. All businesses and their retail sales and all consumers and their purchases should be treated equally.

I want to provide you with some highlights of what the Marketplace Fairness Act accomplishes:

• The bill gives states the right to decide to collect – or not to collect – taxes that are already owed.

• The legislation would streamline the country’s more than 9,000 diverse sales tax jurisdictions and provide two options by which states could begin collecting sales taxes from online and catalog purchases.

• The bill gives states two voluntary options that would allow them to collect the state sales taxes that are already owed if they choose. The first option is the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement, which is supported by 24 states that have already passed laws to simplify their sales tax collection rules. The second option puts in place basic minimum simplification measures states can adopt to make it easier for out-of-state businesses to comply.

• The bill also carves out small businesses so that they are not adversely affected by the new law by exempting businesses with less than $500,000 in online or out-of-state sales from collection requirements. This small business exemption will protect small merchants and give new businesses time to get started.

Do not let the critics get away with saying this kind of simplification cannot be done. In the early 1990s when the Quill decision was handed down, the Internet was still in diapers and cell phones came with bags and looked like bricks. Cell phones, software, computers, technology have all advanced at an exponential pace. The different rates and jurisdiction problem is no problem for today’s programs.

As a former mayor and state legislator, I strongly favor giving states the authority to require sales and use tax collection from retailers on all sales if they choose to do so. Sales taxes go directly to state and local governments, which brings in needed revenue for maintaining our schools, fixing our roads and supporting local law enforcement. If sales over the Internet continue to go untaxed and electronic commerce continues to soar, revenues to state and local governments will plummet.

My legislation would help both consumers and states by reducing the burden on consumers and providing a mechanism that would allow states to systematically and fairly collect the taxes already owed to them. At a time when states are increasingly turning to the federal government for program funding, it makes sense for Congress to authorize states to collect taxes that are already owed. . The states’ dependency on federal dollars could be offset by collecting taxes that are already owed from everyone who owes them at the state level. But if Congress fails to authorize states to collect tax on remote sales, and electronic commerce continues to grow, we are implicitly blessing a situation where states will be forced to raise other taxes B such as income or property taxes B to offset the growing loss of sales tax revenue. I want to avoid that. That is why we need to implement a plan that will allow states to generate revenue using mechanisms already approved by their local leaders. We need to allow states the ability to collect the sales taxes that are already on the books – which if enacted, it is estimated to provide $23 billion in fiscal relief in the 2012 alone for the states for which Congress does not have to find an offset.

This will give states less of an excuse to come knocking on the federal door for handouts and will reduce the problem of federally attached strings.

The Marketplace Fairness Act is not about new taxes. No one should tax the use of the Internet. No one should tax Internet services. I do, however, have concerns about using the Internet as a sales tax loophole. Sales tax collection is already required by my home state of Wyoming no matter how or where we buy something if it is not taxed by the state we get it from. Under Wyoming law, online purchases are already subject to sales tax – it is just not being collected or given to our state. The situation is very similar to that of other states.

Senators Durbin, Alexander, Tim Johnson, and I have worked tirelessly to assist sellers and state and local governments to simplify sales and use tax collection and administration. For the past several years, I have worked with all interested parties to find a mutually agreeable legislative package to introduce. Many hours have been dedicated to finding the right solution. I will continue to work with all interested parties to improve on the policy issues of concern to the stakeholders. Bill introduction does not stop us from negotiating and working together to improve the final product that should be enacted into public law.

The Marketplace Fairness Act is supported by over 200 organizations, including but not limited to the National Governors’ Association, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, National League of Cities, National Association of Counties, the National Retail Federation, and the Retail Industry Leaders Association. I would like to submit the entire list into the hearing record. I also would like to submit several letters of support for the Marketplace Fairness Act into the hearing record.

Ten years ago, the bills we considered to try to close this loophole were not adequate to solve the problem. The Marketplace Fairness Act does solve the problem. It is simple, it is about States’ rights, and it is about fairness. At a time when State budgets are under increasing pressure, Congress should give State and local governments the ability to enforce their own laws. I strongly encourage my colleagues to support the Marketplace Fairness Act and get it enacted into public law this year.

Congress has responsibility to vote against bad rules and regulations

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 04:30:00 EST

It is the job of Congress to look at each rule and regulation and vote against them if they are wrong, said U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., during a debate today on a legislative challenge to the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) “ambush elections” rule.

Congress has responsibility to vote against bad rules and regulations

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 03:00:00 EST

Enzi resolution targets NLRB "ambush elections"...

Spirit of Enterprise Award

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 04:00:00 EST

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce

America’s budget suspended until after election

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 06:30:00 EST

The Senate missed an opportunity to make real progress in reducing the nation’s unsustainable debt, according to U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., who expressed disappointment that members will not be able to work on, amend, or vote on a budget in the Senate Budget Committee today.

Find out more by clicking here:
http://www.enzi.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2012/4/america-s-budget-suspended-until-after-election

Senator Mike Enzi-April Newsletter

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 06:00:00 EST

Buffett Rule a political gimmick

Approximately four out of five “millionaires” that would be affected by the higher taxes of the “Buffett Rule” are small business owners who are taxed on profits immediately even though they have to leave it in the business. This would make it more difficult, and in some cases impossible for businesses to expand and thrive in the current economy. In reality, this bill is a gimmick intended to distract the country from the tough political decisions that cannot wait until after the 2012 elections.

There is a better path forward to achieve the desired result of the “Buffett Rule.” That path includes comprehensive tax reform that results in a tax code that is simpler, fairer, and pro-growth. If we combine that with appropriate spending cuts our country will be able to get out from under the heavy weight of our current and escalating debt burden.

Sen. Enzi’s plan for cutting federal spending is the “One Cent Solution.” This bill would make true cuts to federal spending by one percent for seven years and achieve a balanced budget in the eighth year. Wyoming families have had to cut their budget by more than one percent. The federal government should be able to do the same.

Enzi defends Wyoming’s ICBMs

Last month Senator Enzi joined a bipartisan coalition of senators in sending a letter expressing concerns over proposed efforts to reduce the nuclear capabilities of the United States. The letter was sent to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, Senators Ben Nelson and Jeff Sessions, respectively.

The letter acknowledges the new START agreement’s range of missile levels and asks that any reductions be made equally among the three facilities that house them, one being F.E. Warren Air Force Base. The letter also asks that reductions be done incrementally and all missiles remain in ‘warm’ status. This will help to guarantee strength and preparedness in times of need.

Department of Labor on Wyoming farms

Senator Enzi joined Sen. Barrasso and 36 other senators to introduce the Preserving America’s Family Farm Act, a common-sense piece of legislation that will prevent the Department of Labor from enacting its controversial restrictions on youth working on family farms.

These restrictions would prohibit youth under the age of 18 from being near certain-aged animals without adult supervision or participating in common livestock practices such as vaccinating and hoof trimming. This will severely limit participation in 4-H and FFA activities.

Under the restrictions youth will also be prohibited from operating machinery over 20 PTO horsepower, completing tasks over six feet high, and working at stockyards and grain and feed facilities.

The language is so specific that youth would even be banned from operating a battery-operated screwdriver or a pressurized garden hose.

“Wyoming farmers and ranchers don’t need the federal government telling them how to raise young people in agriculture,” said Enzi. “Our bill protects the future of agriculture and the traditions of rural America.”

In December of 2011, a group of 30 senators sent a letter to the Secretary of the Department of Labor requesting these proposed rules be withdrawn and outlined numerous concerns. As of today, the Department has not responded to the bipartisan letter.

Inventors Conference this weekend

Don’t miss Senator Enzi’s annual Inventors Conference, “From Your Garage to the Assembly Line,” being held at Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs on April 21 from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. in Room 1005. Pre-registration is available by contacting Senator Enzi’s state director, Robin Bailey, at (307) 682-6268 or robin_bailey@enzi.senate.gov.

Bipartisan JOBS Act signed into law

Earlier this month, President Obama signed into law the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act which Senator Enzi voted for.

The bipartisan legislation will help small businesses attract new investors, remove costly regulations, and provide access to the capital needed for growth.

EPA targets coal with regulations

The Environmental Protection Agency recently issued new carbon emission regulations that will have a long-term impact on Wyoming’s coal industry.

“If the President truly wants an ‘all of the above’ energy policy, he needs to support the development of all energy sources,” said Senator Enzi.

Coal is an inexpensive and abundant domestic energy source that creates thousands of Wyoming and American jobs. These rules restrict the advancement of new power plants, hindering job growth.

Health care law anniversary

The two-year anniversary of President Obama’s health care law recently came and went. It was a reminder of all the broken promises to Wyoming. The law, which will cost over $2.6 trillion, is a massive injection of government in the medical decisions of every American.

“It is time for real reform that puts health care decisions into the hands of American families and their doctors, not Washington bureaucrats,” said Enzi.

Even after printing piles of money to pay for the President’s new health care law, and forcing thousands of pages of new regulations on small businesses, the President’s law will still leave 27 million people without health insurance. Congress should renew its focus on health laws that will actually lower health care costs, help employers and allow Americans to keep the plans they want

Connect with Senator Enzi on Facebook

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Wyoming state offices

Senator Enzi's five state offices in Cheyenne, Gillette, Casper, Cody and Jackson offer office hours where Wyoming residents have the opportunity to meet with Senator Enzi’s state representatives in his absence. Click here to find out more.

America’s budget suspended until after election

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 05:00:00 EST

Decision puts politics before country’s fiscal health, ignores debt ...

Opening Statement Budget Committee Mark Up

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 04:30:00 EST

Mr. Chairman. It is well past time the Senate follows through its statutorily required duty to mark up a budget resolution. Unfortunately, the exercise we are going through today does NOT do that. I am disappointed this is the case because I believe we are missing an opportunity to make real progress in solving the most important problem facing our country – our unsustainable debt.

In 1997, when I first came to Washington, our national debt was $5.4 trillion. Today, it is an astonishing $15 trillion, and without immediate action, that number will continue to increase to a level that is even more unsustainable. We are spending more today than ever before and we are seeing trillion dollar a year increases in the debt.

What will happen if we don’t act and cut spending? We won’t be able to afford the military we need. People won’t get their Social Security checks. Roads won’t be fixed. All our money will go toward paying the interest on the debt. People shouldn’t doubt this is real. There were riots in the streets in Greece when their government was forced to face the realities of debt. I have news for you; our debt per person is more than Greece’s debt per person.

Time and time again, the federal government has proven that it is incapable of the fiscal discipline needed to spend within its means. Time and time again, the federal government has spent more money than it brings in. It has led to the situation we currently face – where we are borrowing more than 40 cents on every dollar we spend.

For years, we have tried for years to hide it, disguise it, and ignore it. We have acted like it is okay to keep spending money that we don’t have. We no longer have that option. The world today is different than the world was in 1997.

Unfortunately, we appear to be hiding once again today. Rather than marking up a budget resolution that can be conferenced with the Majority, we are discussing the Majority’s version of the Simpson-Bowles plan. While I strongly support the Simpson-Bowles plan, and thank Chairman Conrad and Senator Crapo for their service on the Commission, one of its key aspects was its bipartisan nature.

I wasn’t consulted about the plan we are discussing today. Ranking Member Sessions wasn’t consulted. This isn’t the way legislation is supposed to work. We’re supposed to come together and do the hard work in the Committee. We’re supposed to find the areas where we can agree and push them forward. The Simpson-Bowles plan is a good outline. Now we need to work together to hammer out the details. That’s not what we’re doing today.

In fiscal year 2011, the government brought in slightly more than $2.3 trillion in revenue. At the same time we collected $2.3 trillion, we spent about $3.6 trillion. In other words, we overspent by $1.3 trillion. That’s an astonishing amount of spending, and it cannot be sustained.

We have the opportunity to change this trend and to do that, we have to stop digging. We can start by considering serious proposals to curtail federal spending and steer the country back on a track of fiscal responsibility. My Republican colleagues have introduced cost-saving measures and budget proposals, and I have introduced my own bill to balance the nation’s budget.

While we’ve done this, where is the President and where are my colleagues in the Majority? Last year, President Obama’s budget was such an unserious proposal that it failed by a vote of 0 – 97 in the Senate. In the House, his latest budget failed by a vote of 0-414. Not a single member was willing to support the President’s budget proposal. In the Senate, we haven’t passed a budget in more than 1,000 days, and the budget that we are discussing today isn’t likely to come to the Senate floor for debate.

Once again, we’re passing the buck because the Majority Leader doesn’t want his caucus to have to make politically tough votes. I understand that. None of us likes to make tough votes, but consider this – by avoiding votes, he has been avoiding solutions. Problems aren’t getting solved and this hurts members more than making some tough votes.

At a time when the national debt breaks down to more than $49,000 for every person in Wyoming and across the country, there is no justification for business as usual. We cannot wait until it is politically expedient to do what must be done. We cannot keep talking about the problems, promising solutions, and then shying away from substantive discussions and votes.

Citizens across the country are also weighing in and their anger is understandable. Congressional approval is at an all-time low and our inability to make any changes to the way the government operates has left taxpayers with less and less confidence in Congress’ ability to manage their tax dollars and take responsible action.

I have said it before, but it bears repeating – we cannot continue to punt the tough decisions. Right now, the decisions we make will be tough and cause some pain. If we continue to avoid making any significant headway in addressing our debt and spending, the pain felt in the future will be much greater.

I’ve heard from a lot of people in Wyoming about the national debt and the lack of a budget resolution in well over 1,000 days. They have shared different ideas and opinions about what solutions we should focus on, but one message is universal. Do something. And do it now. This message should resonate with all of us and galvanize us to come to the table and do what we were sent here to accomplish. Instead, we will end today with more talk and no action.

The House Republicans at least did a budget and voted on it. Senate Democrats chastised House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan for that budget. Senator Toomey has a budget that balances in eight years that he is ready to vote on. And yet, we are here today without a plan from Senate Democrats that we get to vote on.

That’s too bad. I’m ready to put in the work necessary to pass a budget and get our country on a sustainable fiscal path. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like we will have the opportunity to do that work today.

Tax Day a reminder of broken promises, cost of government

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 05:30:00 EST

The sheer cost of government is apparent to every American who is putting the finishing touches on their taxes, according to U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., who said that Tax Day is another unwelcome reminder that the federal government taxes and spends too much. Enzi issued the following comments today:

“Every year American taxpayers see the size and the cost of government grow. Despite promises by President Obama to cut the deficit in half by the end of his first term, his policies have increased the national debt by nearly $5 trillion and seek to impose massive tax increases to keep his spending priorities alive. Taxpayers should not be punished for Washington’s inaction and unwillingness to spend within its means.

“For years, we have tried to hide it, disguise it, and ignore it. We have acted like it is okay to keep spending money that we don’t have. The reality is that we have spent every last tax dollar and even the money we have borrowed from countries like China. That’s not the message American’s want to hear on Tax Day, but it’s the truth.”