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Credit: EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Eric Cantor, who represents Virginia's 7th District in the U.S. House of Representatives, is the House majority leader. Contact his office at http://cantor.house.gov/ or call (804) 747-4073.
America is at a tipping point, and Republicans have begun to take action.
Last week, the House passed unprecedented legislation reducing discretionary spending this fiscal year by more than $100 billion. In addition, we made clear that our long-term budget, to be unveiled in the spring, will address the entitlement crisis that threatens to bankrupt our country — a long overdue move that politicians for too long have kicked down the road. This show of fiscal restraint represents not merely a clean break with Congress' free-spending past, but a rededication to economic growth and a laser-like focus on job creation.
It's important to recognize the link between cutting spending and growing the economy. Like the gardenerpruning the tree, we do not cut for the sake of cutting, but out of necessity. It's the only way to restore economic health and free up the private capital necessary for new growth. Put simply, less government spending equals more private sector jobs.
Economic growth is generated when businesses weigh their risks against their potential reward (returns after taxes) and make a decision that an investment is worthwhile. That investment can take the form of a capital investment or an investment in additional labor (jobs). Especially in this increasingly interconnected world, businesses will logically move their investments to wherever they can achieve the greatest returns without assuming too much additional risk.
For many years, America offered unparalleled opportunity for businesses to grow and succeed. Investors could find in the United States comparatively low taxes, a consistent regulatory environment and a stable currency. Tens of millions of jobs were created as America served as the global driver of growth and prosperity.
Yet today many doubt whether America can still power the world economy forward. Uncertainty over our deteriorating fiscal situation and increasingly burdensome regulatory structure has made job creators and investors think twice about deploying their capital in the United States.
As the federal government continues to borrow nearly 40 cents for every dollar it spends, America's $14 trillion debt hangs over the economy like a dark cloud waiting to unleash a violent storm of higher taxes, inflation and higher borrowing costs. The very businesses and investors we need to grow our economy are waiting to see if this cloud will pass.
The more local and national business owners I meet with, the more obvious it becomes that our businesses are innovative and poised to grow; government just has to stop making it harder for them to compete.
As part of our larger effort, Republicans are reviewing and cutting job-impeding regulations that stifle job growth. Next week, we will repeal the onerous 1099 reporting requirement to provide small businesses with much-needed relief. Additionally, we are focused on other ways to grow the economy, including tax reform and implementing job-creating trade agreements.
Will the administration and the Senate join us in getting our fiscal house in order? Or will they continue to add entitlements and borrow and spend at unsustainable levels? If only they would unite with us, confidence can be restored in America and capital investment can return.
But if they don't walk us back from the precipice, businesses will see only weaker prospects for profit and growth on our shores — and turn instead to other countries they deem safer. What does this mean for America? It means we would be a lot more like Europe. Our graduates and work force would have less opportunity to find work. Our prospective entrepreneurs would have less incentive to pursue their ideas. Unemployment would be permanently higher and growth would be permanently weaker.
During his recent speech to the Chamber of Commerce, President Barack Obama insisted that in response to his policies, businesses have a "responsibility" to hire more workers and support the U.S. economy. But that's not how it works in market-based economies. There is no magic hiring wand.
If the president genuinely wants to create jobs, he should take a cue from Virginia. Gov. Bob McDonnell has turned a $1.8 billion deficit into a $403 million surplus, cut $4.2 billion out of the 2011 and 2012 budgets — and he has done so without raising taxes.
America needs to show the world that we are serious about slashing our debt. By cutting $100 billion off the president's proposed budget and taking the lead in reforming entitlements, House Republicans have demonstrated that we are more than ready to help make the tough choices necessary to move us in the right direction. Moving forward, we will use every tool at our disposal to remove barriers to economic growth so that people can get back to work and we can start to get our fiscal house in order.
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