Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to give voice to the need to cut the size and scope of government. While the rhetoric and calls for increased spending continue to escalate, let us also remember it is our duty and obligation to do more with less.

Over the past 12 years, annual Federal spending has more than doubled, exceeding $3.1 trillion. Since January 2007, our government has added an average of $2.8 billion per day to our national debt. If deficit spending were the way to prosperity, our economy would be booming.

We are more than $10 trillion in debt and there is no end in sight. Let us remember it is not the government's money we talk about and spend, it is the American people's money. And we cannot afford to continue to run this government on a credit card. We're going to have to do more with less, and that means finding ways to cut government spending.

Madam Speaker, the University of Utah Football Team deserves to be National Champions. The Running Utes of Utah had a remarkably perfect 13-0 season, the only undefeated team out of the 119 in the NCAA's Football Bowl Subdivision. They started the season by defeating the perennial powerhouse Michigan Wolverines. They beat the Oregon State Beavers, who one week earlier had beaten the #1-ranked USC Trojans. They went on to beat the TCU Horned Frogs and the BYU Cougars, who were both ranked in the top 15 of the BCS at the time. Finally, in the Sugar Bowl, the University of Utah crushed the University of Alabama, who was ranked #1 in the BCS for much of the season. The Utes were able to turn back the Crimson Tide, but were still wiped out of consideration for the BCS National Championship.

Perhaps the Bowl Championship Series, the so-called BCS, would best be referred to as the Good `Ol Boys Championship Series. The University of Utah bowled over 13 opponents this year without a single loss. It would be seemingly inappropriate for the Utes to be bowled over by the good 'ol boys off the field. The University of Utah Football Team deserves to be National Champions.