Members of Congress are frequent depositories of criticism. Furthermore, I think most of us view such criticism as well placed more often than not. Though in all likelihood, we don't, in the same way, recognize when one of our elected representatives has done something worthy of our appreciation. I certainly fall into that myself.
On that note, I do want to take a moment to express my thanks to Congressman Long for his vote against the budget bill passed early Friday, Feb. 9, known as HR 1892.
Rep. Long was elected in the 2010 wave of "conservative" Republicans that were ushered into Congress. During that election, and thereafter, Republicans railed against President Obama's trillion-dollar deficits. Republicans now hold majorities, albeit slim majorities, in both the House and Senate. This is, of course, in addition to now having a Republican President. Unfortunately, we still have a trillion dollar deficit. This budget bill makes things worse, not better. It removes spending caps and ensures the national debt will continue to sky-rocket.
If trillion dollar deficits were wrong in the past, they are just as wrong today. If debt previously diminished the hopes and dreams of Americans, it still does today. If debt previously enslaved generations of Americans yet born by shackling them with debt, it still does today. If debt previously was a threat to our national security, it still is today. In the past, a national debt was a national disgrace, and it still is.
This is why I appreciate Rep. Long's vote to say no to more spending, debt, and government largess. Let's hope, for the next vote, more Republicans follow Rep. Long's lead and remember the people sent them to Washington to limit the government, not expand it.
Dirk Deaton
Noel, Mo.
Editorial on 02/15/2018