Rick Becker on Budget & Economy

	Rick Becker on Budget & Economy

The budget must be balanced; wasteful spending must be cut

The single biggest threat to our national security is the ever-increasing national debt. We are in crisis, yet Congress continues to push us further into debt, harming the lives of future generations. The threat of the Federal government temporarily "closing down" will not deter me from refusing to vote us into further debt and future misery. The budget must be balanced. Wasteful spending must be cut. Long term obligations like Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare must be reformed. Source: 2022 N.D. Senate campaign website RickBecker2022.com , Mar 14, 2022

Submit smaller budgets when there are shortfalls

Discussion of the state's $1.074 billion budget shortfall dominated a large portion of the debate. Candidates were asked what they would've done differently if they were governor in 2015 when the state overshot on its budget forecast with oil prices already beginning to fall. "I don't know that I would have done anything differently," Stenehjem said, adding that the current rainy day funds and processes for cutting budgets has been in place for decades and have worked. Last month general fund agencies were ordered to cut 4.05% from their budgets; the rest of the cuts came from rainy day funds and state general fund surplus dollars.

Becker, touting his staunch fiscal conservative principles, said he'd have submitted a far smaller budget to begin with. "We wouldn't have found ourselves in the situation we're in now," Becker said, adding that with a smaller budget "I won't have to take out that red pen and line-item veto."

Source: Bismarck Tribune on 2016 North Dakota gubernatorial debate , Mar 3, 2016

Reverse the trend of imprudent & increasing spending

Decrease Spending: Reverse the trend of imprudent spending that has increased the state budget 135% over the last 10 years.
Proper Government: Assert state sovereignty; respect property rights.

Source: 2016 N.D. Governor campaign website, BeckerForGovernor.com , Dec 10, 2015

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