By: Brian Sikma

At a recent Congressional hearing Rep. Baron Hill (D-IN) questioned whether or not an economic stimulus package is necessary and whether or not such a package would violate the semi-sacred PAYGO rules embraced by Hill and his party.  With the economy entering a slow down Hill doesn’t seem to understand that tax cuts help the middle class and alleviate the financial burden that they bear.

When the economy slows down, the solution isn’t to raise taxes, the solution is to look for ways to allow individuals and businesses to keep more of their own money and use that money to generate economic growth.  Tax revenues are not tied to tax rates, they are tied to economic health and tax cuts and responsible spending promote economic growth.

The PAYGO concerns raised by Hill illustrate his willingness to raise taxes at a time when that would be exactly the wrong move.  PAYGO rules don’t restrict Congress’s options to balancing the budget to a tax increase.  The also allow Congress to reduce spending in order to balance the budget.  The Democrats now control Congress, yet they have failed to demonstrate their fiscal responsibility.

In December the House passed a massive spending bill that contained 9,000 earmarks.  As Americans carefully assess their personal expenditures during this economic slowdown House Democrats felt that more irresponsible spending was the way to go.  Baron Hill and his colleagues need to stop their irresponsible ways and start governing like adults.

Here is a video of Baron questioning whether or not we need economic stimulus and musing on how PAYGO should take precedent over tax cuts: