“Debt will run this country, not us": Lawmaker sounds the alarm on the nation’s debt

An Arizona lawmaker has a strong warning about our nation’s debt and the ability to pay.

Representative David Schweikert says things are escalating and he warns it is getting serious.

“How does this committee produce policy that says we’re not going to raise taxes on working people? We need our small businesses to be hitting a new productivity curve because that’s how we survive. But at the same time, how do we thread the needle and communicate to the world debt markets that we’re serious? Please don’t keep raising our interest rates because at this moment, if where the interest rates are going, just that increase of going to a five handle is double the cost of extending all these tax provisions. Understand if we don’t get this right, the debt and bond markets are going to run this country not us.”

Schweikert says the nation’s debt is up almost a full point since December. Farm CPA’s also spoke this week before the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. They have urged lawmakers to not let the Trump tax cuts expire. House Speaker Mike Johnson also said recently that they are a top priority for his office.

Related Stories
Farm Legal expert Roger McEowen discusses new dicamba regulations, compliance requirements for growers, and the evolving outlook for herbicide use.
Mike Steenhoek with the Soy Transportation Coalition discusses supply chain disruptions, rising costs, and the potential impact on agriculture as farmers navigate ongoing global uncertainty.
The action follows the March 13 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which upheld a district court decision denying a preliminary injunction that sought to halt the exchange.
American Soybean Association President Scott Metzger discusses his recent testimony before the Senate Ag Committee, key priorities for soy growers, and his outlook for farmers into spring planting.
House ag leaders had hoped to get the Farm Bill voted on by Easter, but no dates have been secured just yet.
Debt pressures could reshape farm policy and credit.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins shared a behind-the-scenes look at the journey as part of what’s being called the “Great American Egg Road Trip.”
Rising costs are significantly extending walnut profitability timelines.
Michael Cliver discusses his recent visit to the White House with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and the Trump Administration’s “Working Families Tax Cuts” impact on ranching families.
PLC and NCBA Chief Counsel Kaitlynn Glover reacts to the USDA’s new Grazing Action Plan, regulatory relief for ranchers, and the industry’s efforts to improve access to public lands.
Secretary Rollins is signaling a possible reopening of the southern border to Mexican feeder cattle as officials work to manage the threat of the New World Screwworm.
On this week’s Rural Health Matters, Dr. Jeffrey Gold raises awareness about Parkinson’s disease, shares insights on early detection, and offers guidance for patients and families in rural communities.