3 things Congress should do before October

As you may know, Congress goes back into session tomorrow. Though some Democrats are suggesting that this session should be cut short so members can go back to campaigning, there’s plenty left to do. Below are three first steps that could be taken to get our government and economy moving in the right direction.

1. Write a Budget. Mr. Spratt has been touting the fact that he proposed “the functional equivalent” of a budget. That’s not what the law demands, and that’s not good enough for a country awash in debt. Taxpayers, employers and investors alike need to know how much the government plans to borrow and spend over the next few years – and that’s what a budget would show us. Drafting a budget isn’t as good as passing a budget, but it would be a good, albeit tardy, first step.

2. Extend the 2001/2003 tax cuts. Mr. Spratt voted against reducing our taxes in 2001 and 2003, but there’s plenty of time left for him to change his tune. He can support extending all of those low rates for the foreseeable future. As history has proven, raising taxes during a recession is a terrible idea. Congress should remove all concerns over higher taxes next year.

3. Begin fixing harmful Obamacare regulations. No doubt, thousands of the new regulations and mandates within Obamacare need to be de-funded. A bi-partisan first step would be to eliminate the 1099 provisions that force companies to report any business transactions totaling $600 or more.

These three suggestions are certainly not an exhaustive list, however they would receive support from both sides of the aisle, and they could be completed by the House in the short session that begins tomorrow. If you have additional suggestions for what Congress complete – both in the short-term and long-term – please reply and let me know what you think!

Read the original story at Mike Mulvaney for Congress