I am very disappointed in the party-line vote in the Senate.

This is the proposal I believe has the most merit for moving us in the right direction toward balancing our budget now, next year and into the future. We must cut spending, cap the percentage of spending to gross national product, and pass a balanced budget amendment to the United States Constitution. But I believe there is a fourth component to getting our country back on track, and that is ‘grow.’

I don’t want us to forget the importance of a growing economy and putting Americans back to work.

The government is not a creator of jobs, but Congress and the administration should create an environment where businesses can grow and start hiring again. This means reining in burdensome government regulations; replacing our convoluted tax code with one that is fair, simple and certain; opening foreign markets for American manufactured goods and agricultural products; and developing a comprehensive energy policy. Yet none of these things are being done.

If Washington pursues policies focused on Cut, Cap, Balance and Grow, America will be a better place today and every American child and will have the opportunity to pursue the American dream.”