Our national debt continues to spiral out of control, and Congress has been fueling the fire. People in Washington could take a lesson from our small businesses and working families, who have been doing more with less for years now. For virtually my entire career, I’ve worked with small businesses; I’ve helped family-owned companies grow. I will bring the same common-sense approach to Congress that facilitated the growth of my own business.

In Congress, I will focus on investments that will provide future security for our families and our nation. Out of the gate, we should allow the Bush tax cuts for income above $250,000 to expire, returning to the Clinton-era rates, to begin addressing our deficits.

We should also end the unnecessary tax subsidies for oil corporations and stop tax breaks for companies that ship American jobs overseas. Balancing our budget is vitally important, but we cannot keep trying to do it on the backs of the most vulnerable.

Unfortunately, Congress has failed thus far at engaging in anything resembling a productive discussion of the issues we face. Two years ago, we were promised jobs, smaller government, and a return to fiscal responsibility; and all we’ve gotten are record debt levels, old debates on contraception, and the first credit downgrade in our history. Washington has failed to take the lead on fiscal reform. We need responsible leaders in Congress, promoting informed discussions of when and how to control expenses, how to manage revenue streams, and how and where to invest.