Republican Radio Address 2/28/09

[0:00] ..." Hello this is United States senator Richard Burr of North Carolina. This week president Obama shared with all Americans his priorities and concerns about the serious economic challenges we as"...

[0:47] ..." we're going to get there. These uncertain times present us with a defining moment. -- actions and decisions we make in the actions we take in our nation's capital and in the state capitals across this country. We'll have a pro found effect on the way of life for years to come. Families facing tough decisions at home know this because there confronting the same challenges. Washington needs to understand this reality as well. It's difficult to fully"...

[1:38] ..." you pick up the newspaper you -- in about another multibillion dollar government spending plan being proposed are even worse past. The numbers are so large in the deficit so staggering. It's difficult for the average"...

[2:10] ..." the single largest increase in federal spending in the history of the United States. While driving the deficit to levels that were once thought impossible. If we just look at what our debt spending will cost"...

[0:00]" Hello this is United States senator Richard Burr of North Carolina. This week president Obama shared with all Americans his priorities and concerns about the serious economic challenges we as America are facing. I appreciated his optimism and agree with him but our country has the ability to overcome the significant economic challenge. The strongest do we as Americans have is our ability to rally together and to find solutions with unity of purpose. There's no limit to our ability and potential when we as a nation and as a people work together. Many times disagreements between the two political parties in Washington get all the headlines. What's not reported is the fact that Republicans and Democrats agree on where we want to go but we disagree on how we're going to get there. These uncertain times present us with a defining moment. -- actions and decisions we make in the actions we take in our nation's capital and in the state capitals across this country. We'll have a pro found effect on the way of life for years to come. Families facing tough decisions at home know this because there confronting the same challenges. Washington needs to understand this reality as well. It's difficult to fully appreciate but every time congress and the president spends a dollar. It's actually a dollar plus interest that our children and grandchildren will have to pay back. We must remind ourselves of this fact every single day. Unfortunately. Washington is in a state of denial. Are spending habits haven't gotten better but only got worse. It seems that every morning you pick up the newspaper you -- in about another multibillion dollar government spending plan being proposed are even worse past. The numbers are so large in the deficit so staggering. It's difficult for the average person to imagine how much money were really talking about. We've become numb to what the dollar figures really mean or the obligation that accompanies them. -- take a moment to try to explain what's happening in Washington right now and what it will mean for all of us down the road. This week. The president submitted to congress the single largest increase in federal spending in the history of the United States. While driving the deficit to levels that were once thought impossible. If we just look at what our debt spending will cost us in interest payments alone. We're talking about four trillion dollars over the next ten years more than a billion dollars of interest payment every day. I -- that portray him as a finance charge on your credit card bill you have to play. But you get nothing for the return. This finance charge obligates more than 52000. For every family in America over the same ten year period. These payments don't even make a dent in the balance we -- In fact the balance on our credit card continues to grow as we continue to spend. Like a family that find itself choking under the weight of credit card balances and finance charges. The federal government is quickly obligated in the American people. -- similar fight. This is why we must keep an eye on the big picture. For two centuries the American dream is dependent on the simple belief that men and women work hard so their children would have a better future. Looking at the spending priorities of Democrats in Washington in the proposed budget and over the past month. It's hard to escape the reality -- for the first time we could see the American dream vanished. Now instead of working hard -- children can have a better life tomorrow. We're asking our children to work hard so that we don't have to make tough choices today. So long past time to show restraint and to make the tough choices that will help put our fiscal house in order. Generations of Americans past have often been called on to make great sacrifices for their country. Many have made the ultimate sacrifice. Is it not time for the government to make sacrifices for future generations. It's time for those elected to lead. What we rise to the challenge and make the tough choices necessary. -- will wait to simply hand the obligation. To our children and wish them good law. Thanks for listening."