PORT ANGELES — Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dino Rossi told a crowd of about 66 supporters last week that a Constitutional amendment is needed to require Congress to have a balanced budget.
Such a move, aimed at reducing the national debt, would prevent the federal government’s expenses from exceeding its revenue, he told those who gathered at the Red Lion Hotel on Friday morning.
Rossi, who is challenging Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Freeland in Tuesday’s primary election, made the national debt, which he said is bankrupting future generations, the focus of his speech at the Port Angeles campaign event.
Rossi also visited two private homes in East Jefferson County on Friday, talking with about 40 supporters at the home of Robert and Barbara Phinizy in Port Ludlow and about 30 at the Brinnon home of Ian and Glenys McFall.
“It’s morally reprehensible what we are doing to our children and our grandchildren,” he said at the Port Angeles event.
Rossi also said that a Constitutional amendment mandating a balanced budget should include a requirement that any new tax increases would have to be approved by two-thirds of Congress rather than a simple majority.
Washington state has the same two-thirds requirement for new taxes through I-960, although the state Legislature suspended the initiative earlier this year.
Rossi, a former state senator, didn’t mention the initiative.
While focusing much of his criticism at Congress in general, including both Republicans and Democrats, he pointed specifically at Murray when he talked about irresponsible spending and unnecessary “pet projects.”
“I’m sure someone wanted it; I’m sure they are going to vote for it,” Rossi said, after listing some of Murray’s earmarks.
“But what Republicans and Democrats are both doing is bankrupting America,” he said, adding, “Washington, D.C., needs some adult supervision.”
Rossi also called for the repeal of the Health Care Reform Act, which he referred to as a “tax and spend bill with a little bit of health care sprinkled on top.”
He said the federal government should find other solutions to expanding health care coverage, such as encouraging small groups of people to band together under insurance plans to lower costs.
To balance the budget without raising new taxes, Rossi said Congress should focus more on hiring and pay freezes for federal employees.
He said that would help limit cuts to social services.
As the chairman of the state Senate’s budget writing committee in 2003, Rossi said he proved that one can be “fiscally conservative and socially responsible.”
Rossi, a two-time GOP candidate for governor, is considered the biggest challenger to Murray.
Thirteen other candidates are on the ballot.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
