More work ahead

This week, an agreement was signed into law to reopen the government and avert the risk of a possible default.

I, along with many of my colleagues, have fought tooth and nail against the implementation of the flawed healthcare law, which is already killing jobs and driving up premiums for Nebraskans. Despite our efforts, no negotiations to delay this law have traction in this Congress. With the president and Democrats refusing to compromise, our best hope for scrapping Obamacare is with the American people next November at the ballot box.

However, our fight against ObamaCare will continue. With the law's disastrous rollout since its official implementation on October 1, it continues to be a complete train wreck. I remain fully committed to repealing and replacing this terrible legislation with effective, commonsense reforms and will support every measure to do so. Moreover, rigorous congressional oversight is necessary to hold officials accountable for the botched implementation.

After 16 days of impasse, our government could not continue to operate with one hand tied behind its back. Our nation has an important responsibility to keep its promise of taking care of those who fight to keep our country safe, including our veterans and brave members of the National Guard. While the agreement passed is not the legislation I would have written, it was the only option to end government dysfunction and protect our national interests.

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I take Congress' first constitutional charge of providing for the common defense very seriously. We live in dangerous times. A government shutdown, combined with a default on our debt, would pose an unacceptable threat to our national security and our economic security. That is why I voted to both open up the government and prevent a default.

The agreement signed into law reopens the government through January 15 and prevents a default on our nation's existing obligations. Importantly, it preserves spending cuts enacted by the Budget Control Act. I support these spending reductions and believe it's also important to provide flexibility to make them intelligently.

Because of the spending levels in the Budget Control Act, government spending has declined for two years in a row. To some, this may not sound like a remarkable achievement, but it's the first time the federal government has taken such a step towards restoring fiscal discipline in more than 50 years.

The legislation also sets up negotiations between the House and the Senate over the next two months on a long-term spending plan. I am willing to give this negotiating period a chance. However, I have no interest in kicking the can down the road.

If we are ever going to seriously address our nation's financial crisis, members of Congress must work together on responsible policies to get our fiscal house in order. As we move forward, I hope budget negotiations required by the agreement will result in the reforms necessary to put our country on the right path and grow our economy. Congress needs to step up and do its job.

This week, the Des Moines Register reported that Nebraska was ranked first in the country by a well-known business publication for effective management of its financial obligations. Our state's successful fiscal policies prove that government can spend within its means; it's not an unattainable or unrealistic goal. It can be done, but we have to be honest about our nation's great economic challenges and start setting priorities.

Throughout the coming weeks, I will work with my colleagues, Republican and Democrat, on a commonsense solution that finally addresses our debt. That's what Nebraskans sent me to Washington to do. Upcoming negotiations will require elected officials to cut through the talking points and work towards reasonable solutions that benefit the American people.

Our debt is the biggest danger to our nation's future, the future we pass on to our children and grandchildren. They deserve better than brinksmanship, crisis management, and games. It's time to get to work.

Thank you for taking part in our democratic process, and I'll visit with you again next week.