The monthlong congressional recess will bring no rest for Rep. Bob Goodlatte.
Goodlatte plans to visit his 6th District and will look to build support for his balanced budget constitutional amendment, which now has 241 House co-sponsors.
During a stop at Bridgewater College on Tuesday for the dedication of new energy-efficient college housing, Goodlatte acknowledged the difficult time for President Barack Obama.
Arguably, the president had his worst week in 2½ years on the job last week after the U.S.’ AAA bond rating was downgraded to AA+ by Standard & Poor’s.
And, if that wasn’t bad enough, there was also the loss of 30 American soldiers in Afghanistan.
“I don’t wish any president bad at all,” Goodlatte said. “But I hope he steps up to the plate and cuts government spending and reduces the deficit.”
Goodlatte, R-Roanoke, said the spending reform must deal with government entitlement programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Those programs and Social Security make up about 65 percent of government spending.
The United States is not in the same financial predicament as troubled nations Greece, Spain or Italy, but Goodlatte said it is important to focus on “how large the debt is.”
And while Obama and Goodlatte are on opposite sides of the political aisle, the congressman said the president could build support for a balanced budget amendment.
Goodlatte said Obama’s support could greatly aid in garnering the two-thirds approval needed in both the Senate and House for the amendment to move on to the states.
