Examiner: Freeze federal spending as first step in reform

Aside from Islamic terrorists, the greatest threat to America's future can be found right here in the nation's capital: professional politicians in both major parties who are spending the country into bankruptcy. No individual or family can chronically spend more than they earn, going ever deeper into debt, without eventually having to face financial reality. With President Obama and the Democratic Congress having run up more than $3.6 trillion in deficit spending in just two years, Washington has reached the moment of truth.

The federal government must realign its spending priorities because, as the Heritage Foundation recently said, "Washington taxes families, subtracts a hefty administrative cost, and sends the remaining revenues back to state and local governments with specific rules dictating how they may and may not spend the money. Instead of performing many functions poorly, Congress should focus on performing a few functions well. Most highway, education, justice, and economic development programs should be devolved to state and local governments."

The following are The Examiner's recommended starting points for that realignment:

First, freeze total federal expenditures and employment at 2008 levels. Second, create a Spending Realignment and Closure (SPRAC) commission to do for the federal budget what was done in the 1980s by the immensely successful Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) panel in closing unneeded military facilities. Implementation of SPRAC recommendations should start in 2013.