Dear Randy,

I’m concerned that the “Super Committee” is going in the wrong direction.

In August, Congress passed and the President signed the Budget Control Act (BCA) of 2011, which increased the debt ceiling (again!) and set up a legislative process to “streamline” deficit reduction. The so-called “super committee” is tasked to tackle our nation’s dangerously mounting debt.

As I understand it, the “super committee” is eyeing serious tax INCREASES to meet their $1.2 trillion deficit reduction goal.

LET ME BE VERY CLEAR HERE:  Tax increases will not solve our problems and therefore should not be part of the solution.

We MUST have REAL spending cuts, to both discretionary and mandatory programs. No more typical Washington-style gimmicks. Wasteful programs and agencies that don’t need government funding (like NPR and energy subsidies) need to be cut. Government needs to get out of industries where it doesn’t belong (which is most of them) and entitlements need real.

But Randy, we simply can’t afford to cut defense and military any further as it would cripple our country. Remember, $350 billion was already cut from the military in the first round of the debt ceiling increase. Additionally, military spending was also cut during the short-term CRs and remaining budget bills earlier this year. To be clear, our nation’s military is already suffering a readiness and capabilities crisis! Further cuts to an already underfunded military are irresponsible and dangerous.

I expect for Republicans in the House to stand up against the “Super Committee” by rejecting tax increases and demanding real spending cuts.