BIRMINGHAM — Lawmakers will need to have a "really tough conversation" soon about the federal government's $35 trillion debt, according to U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery).
Britt said during an interview with Punchbowl News at the Innovation Depot in Birmingham on Friday that the federal government now spends more to service its debt than on national defense.
"We're $35 trillion in debt. $35 trillion in debt. For the very first time ever we pay more on the service of our debt than we do for our national defense. First time ever. Any country that you see that happen, it's a tipping point of a nation in decline. So that is something you've got to think about. We've got to do something about cutting wasteful spending," Britt said.
"The federal government…we don't balance our budget," she added.
"I have a balanced budget amendment. There are multiple different ways we can do that. We've definitely got to cut spending. We've got to make sure there's a proper return on tax credits, on the tax structure in general that we're incentivizing the right thing," Britt said.
She continued, "I do think we've got to have a really tough conversation, and I think you also have to look at what we're spending discretionary versus mandatory, and I think it's time to, like, get in a room and figure out a pathway forward. I'm not sure what that will be, but to your point, there are very different views about how we get there, but I do look forward to being part of that conversation."
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