From Cut, Cap, and Balance
Despite our nation’s staggering $14.4 trillion debt, there are many in the Obama Administration and Congress who want to raise our nation’s debt limit without any spending cuts or reforms.
We believe that this is a fiscally irresponsible position that would place America on the Road to Ruin. At the same time, we believe that the current debate over raising the debt limit provides a historic opportunity to focus public attention, and then public policy, on a path to a balanced budget and paying down our debt.
We believe that the “Cut, Cap, Balance” plan for substantial spending cuts in FY 2012, a statutory spending cap, and Congressional passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution is the minimum necessary precondition to raising the debt limit. The ultimate goal is to get us back to a point where increases in the debt limit are no longer necessary.
If you agree, take the Cut, Cap, Balance Pledge! There are versions for elected officials, federal candidates and ordinary citizens.
THE PLEDGE
I pledge to urge my Senators and Member of the House of Representatives to oppose any debt limit increase unless all three of the following conditions have been met:
- Cut - Substantial cuts in spending that will reduce the deficit next year and thereafter.
- Cap - Enforceable spending caps that will put federal spending on a path to a balanced budget.
- Balance - Congressional passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution -- but only if it includes both a spending limitation and a super-majority for raising taxes, in addition to balancing revenues and expenses.
OnMessage Poll Results The following survey was conducted by OnMessage, Inc. for Let Freedom Ring. Live interviews were conducted via telephone June 14th, 15th & 16TH and were stratified by state to reflect historic voter turnout patterns. This survey sample consists of 1,000 likely voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.1%.
News Coverage
June 24, 2011 | The Hill Cut, cap and balance
This week a group of serious, committed advocacy organizations banded together to send a clear message to Washington and urged members of Congress to sign their pledge, titled “Cut, Cap and Balance.”
June 23, 2011 | The Huffington Post Conservatives Pressure GOP Lawmakers To Demand Deep Cuts Before Agreeing To Raise Debt Ceiling
A coalition of conservative groups tried to hike the pressure on Republican lawmakers who might be considering a compromise on the ongoing debt talks Wednesday, demanding that they sign a pledge to demand deep cuts, spending caps and a balanced budget amendment.
June 23, 2011 | ABC News 'The Note' Conservative Lawmakers Sign Pledge Demanding Cuts, Caps & Balanced Budget Amendment in Debt Limit Deal
So far, 11 senators and 14 representatives, including Texas congressman Ron Paul, who is seeking the Republican nomination for president, have signed onto the pledge.
June 23, 2011 | Hot Air Coalition launches to promote “Cut, Cap and Balance” pledge
As the August debt limit debate approaches and Congressional Democrats continue to clamor for a clean increase, more than 40 organizations today formally announced their support for a “Cut, Cap and Balance” approach to the issue — the same approach favored by the Republican Study Committee and solid conservatives like Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC).
June 23, 2011 | Big Government Cut, Cap, and Balance or Else!
The debt limit increase debate is heating up and conservatives have put together one fascinating proposal as a means to get spending cuts in consideration for a debt limit increase: The Cut, Cap, and Balance Pledge.
June 23, 2011 | Human Events Cut, Cap and Balance--As in the Budget--Full-Speed Ahead
Spending cuts are no longer enough for conservative lawmakers: They want a balanced budget. And they’re getting vocal about it, arguing that the rest of Americans want a balanced budget too.
June 23, 2011 | The Washington Times MILLER: Conservatives’ spending pledge
The “Cut, Cap, Balance” pledge to put Uncle Sam on a diet includes cuts in outlays, caps on future spending authority and passage of a balanced-budget amendment that would limit taxing and spending.
June 23, 2011 | The Daily Caller Conservative groups, lawmakers officially roll out Cut, Cap, Balance Pledge
After days of hype, 47 conservative organizations and more than 20 members of Congress officially announced their support for the “Cut, Cap, Balance Pledge” during a press conference Wednesday afternoon on Capitol Hill.
June 23, 2011 | Slate Take the Pledge!
Meanwhile, Pawlenty becomes the third candidate -- Cain, Paul, him -- to sign the debt pledge.
June 23, 2011 | CNBC Coalition Calls for 'Cut, Cap, And Balance' on Capitol Hill
Over 30 advocacy and public policy groups today are calling on Congress to pledge not to raise the debt ceiling without having a balanced budget amendment in place.
June 22, 2011 | Andrew Moylan & Colin Hanna Cut, cap, balance to save economy
Our federal government, careening past its $14.3 trillion debt limit, is on a crash course for fiscal disaster if Congress doesn’t take bold action soon. If we don’t get this right, the United States may no longer remain the world’s strongest economy and only superpower.
June 22, 2011 | Senator Rand Paul What's Another $2.4 Trillion?
We need a new plan, with real restraints, plus immediate cuts. That is why I have joined fellow Members of Congress and thousands of Americans in signing the Cut, Cap and Balance Pledge.
June 22, 2011 | Politico Forty groups unite to block debt ceiling hike
More than 40 conservative groups and 20 members of Congress will announce later Wednesday that they have signed a pledge to block a vote on raising the debt ceiling unless it is coupled with plans to cut, cap and balance federal spending, according to a statement provided to POLITICO.
June 21, 2011 | Wall Street Journal The Fiscal Pledge We Need: Cut, Cap, Balance
The U.S. debt is now above its current limit of $14.3 trillion, a figure so large that it is nearly impossible for the average American to comprehend. Under the budget proposed by President Obama for 2012, the debt would rise to $15.7 trillion in 2021. The annual interest alone would be about $700 billion, and that would only increase with inflation. President Obama's proposed budget was so excessive and fiscally irresponsible that it was voted down in the Senate 97-0.
June 21, 2011 | Erik Wasson Conservatives to launch debt ceiling pledge
House and Senate conservatives have signed onto a new hard-line pledge vowing to oppose any debt ceiling increase without congressional passage of a balanced budget amendment.
June 17, 2011 | The Hill DeMint creates litmus test for 2012 field
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) threatened to withhold his support for Republican presidential candidates unless they sign a pledge requiring fiscal reforms in exchange for raising the debt limit.