Rep. Lummis eyes fiscal policy prior to State of the Union

by Andrew Schenkel-Cowboy State Free Press Washington Correspondent

WASHINGTON, DC–Hours before President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address Washington is full of speculation.

From her office in Washington, Representative Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming was well aware of the topic of the hour.

“There are rumors that the president may propose a freeze on some discretionary expenditures,” Mrs. Lummis said.

The freshman legislator didn’t exactly give the idea a ringing endorsement.

“I think it’s a good place to start but quite frankly it is a drop in the bucket if we don’t deal with entitlements. We need Medicaid, Medicare and most importantly Social Security reform.”

Lummis has taken a focus on financial policy as a member of the House Budget Committee saying, “Big government and big spending are the issues I care most about.” The Cheyenne native says it’s an issue that can unify both parties, comparing the current situation on Capitol Hill to the Mid Term elections in 1994 when Republicans took back both the House and Senate.

“The question is will this White House and the leaders of congress recognize voter frustration the way Bill Clinton did. He moved to the center and was successful at getting the Republicans to work with them. With an ear-to-ear smile Mrs. Lummis added, “They balanced the budget! They balanced the budget!”

Lummis speaks highly of President Clinton’s efforts in 1994. Sixteen years after the fact she is praising the ideas if Wisconsin Representative Paul Ryan. Mr. Ryan and Mrs. Lummis serve together on the Budget Committee.

In a Wall Street Journal Opinion piece the Wisconsin Republican proposes an overhaul of Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security, he calls it “The Roadmap for America.”

Mr. Ryan writes, “The Road Map promotes our national prosperity by limiting government’s burden of spending, mandates and regulation. It ensures the opportunity for individuals to fulfill their human potential and enjoy the satisfaction of their own achievements.”

Mr. Ryan’s bill contains provisions that Democrats have fundamentally opposed, including partial privatization of Social Security. But Mr. Ryan’s proposal also calls for a health care reforms like state based “high risk insurance pools.”

Lummis generally prefers state run programs to federal ones.

“I have strong faith in a states ability to take care of business–it is just much more effective.”

The president’s speech is scheduled in a matter of hours and mid-term elections are looming in November. Mrs. Lummis has made no official announcement about running for a second term but says all candidates and also the president have something at stake in the time between the speech and when voters head to the ballot box in ten months.

“If people in Washington wake up and realize a move to the center is in line with the thinking of voters and a lot of independents right now, I think  we are all in for a successful run, at least President Obama is.”