Joni Ernst Quotes

Only in Washington do you hear a budget increase described as a cut.

Only in Washington does a decrease in the proposed increase equal a spending cut.

As American families and businesses have been forced to tighten their belts, Washington has refused to do the same.

I have a record as governor. I have a record of cutting spending. And I talked yesterday not only about we ought to cut spending, I talked about how we've cut spending in Mississippi and how if you did the same things in the federal government, you would save tens of billions of dollars a year.

Normally, when politicians talk about 'cutting the budget,' they really mean reducing the amount of increase. Actual spending goes up while the politicians claim to have 'cut the budget.'

We are the ones that are trying to get Washington spending under control so it can live within its means.

We must cut federal spending - every wasted dollar, every low priority program, and every unconstitutional overreach - every day.

I don't think I can sell to our voters in our district that there's nothing to cut in the federal budget. Nobody, I think, sees that or would agree with that.

Look, I am not worried about Washington cutting too much spending too fast. I mean, the kinds of spending cuts we're talking about just right now are $100 billion out of a $3.7 trillion budget.

When millions of Americans are tightening their belts, folks have the right to expect their elected officials to do the same.

To cut the federal budget without cutting entitlements is like giving up chocolate-chip cookies and then deciding it's OK to eat the ones that don't have any nuts.

We laugh at liberals who declare that their favorite spending programs should be exempt because the spending is for a noble cause.

I've made more cuts than any governor has ever made.

When they talk about belt-tightening in Washington, they are talking about tightening our belts.

Those who make the most and loudest speeches about deficit reduction are least likely to vote against spending.

The Federal Government has no fiscal policy, for the tail of political expediency has long wagged the dog of prudent policy in Washington.

I think Americans all across this country want more of those types of delaying tactics to slow down this runaway train of massive Federal spending.

Certainly, cutting spending is one of the things that can transcend to the federal government. I mean, I think the federal government has grown by leaps and bounds, and they need to look where do they need to cut.

The main issue is huge government spending, and my record has been trying to make sure the federal government lives within its means. I guess that's really what separates where Republicans have been from the Democrats.

I think it's the broadest source of dissatisfaction amongst Republicans, out-of-control spending.

The American people are tired of the out-of-control spending, and they want Washington to get their act in order and stop spending money we don't have.

It is time we passed a balanced budget amendment and return this government to limited spending.

I'd be a lot more excited about eliminating earmarks if we reduced all of the spending by whatever the earmarks used to be, but nobody's, apparently, going to talk about doing that.

Bush has never sent over a balanced budget.

The mentality in Washington is, 'Look what our government - what our government can do for the American people.' We've got to get away from that mentality, and realize it's too expensive. We can't afford it.