Fiscal Responsibility & Tax Relief

Overview

The national debt has reached $38.43 trillion—$112,966 per citizen, $285,127 per household. Interest payments alone now exceed $1 trillion annually and are the second-largest budget item after Social Security. The GAO has identified $162 billion in improper payments annually and $2.8 trillion cumulatively since 2003. Current federal spending (23.3% of GDP) exceeds the 50-year average of 21.1%. This fiscal trajectory threatens both our children's future and our national security. We need honest, bipartisan solutions.

The Challenge

The nonpartisan CBO projects spending will continue exceeding historical averages indefinitely. Interest on the debt will cost $13.8 trillion over the next decade. California residents pay the nation's highest gas taxes—approximately 70 cents per gallon—while roads remain in poor condition. The tax code is 74,000 pages, benefiting those who can afford armies of accountants. We're caught between the need for tax relief and the reality that unfunded tax cuts add to the debt. Honest leadership requires acknowledging trade-offs.

The Solution

Implement zero-based budgeting requiring every agency to justify spending annually. Act on GAO recommendations that have identified $725 billion in potential savings over the past decade. Simplify the tax code so most Americans can file on a single page. Provide targeted tax relief for working families while honestly accounting for revenue impacts. Require CBO scoring before any spending or tax legislation. Both parties must take responsibility: Democrats for spending, Republicans for unfunded tax cuts. The math doesn't lie.

Expected Impact

• Implement zero-based budgeting to eliminate wasteful programs

• Act on GAO recommendations for $100+ billion in identified savings

• Provide tax relief for working families earning under $150,000

• Simplify tax code so 90% of Americans can file on a single page

• Require CBO scoring and honest accounting for all legislation

• Reduce improper payments ($162 billion annually)

• Stabilize debt trajectory for future generations