All of the above. But I 'd like to point out that this is largely a political challenge as opposed to a technical one. I think people like Gary Johnson, Ron Paul, Rand Paul, Jim Demint,Mike Lee & Justin Amash have some of the best ideas here.

The auto and bank bailouts were the two biggest ripoffs. giving taxpayer dollars to private sector companies, meanwhile some of those taxpayers were struggling to pay back the same people we bailed out!

When is foreign aid going to end ? This is money that is needed here at home and comes out of the pockets of American taxpayers. Enough is enough !

Stop sending billions to other countries,many of which don't even like us.Reform our social programs,even Obama cited the knowledge of billions in welfare and medicare fraud. Build more prisons if needed, or better yet encourage privately owned and operated prisons, and fill them with the criminals cheating the system. Deal with illegals, which we all know cost us a fortune and return little or nothing. Require a balanced Budget of all Congressmen to be eligible to run for re-election...that one fixes it immediately... On another note....Why don't we require you to file a tax return to be eligible to vote? Seems only fair...fixes several things at once???????

Immediately start phasing out useless government agencies such as: EPA, FCC, Federal Department of Education, Fannie Mae. The support these agencies used to provide can be handled by each individual state. Also, Sallie Mae must be phased into the states and capped.

Sadly there are not enough rich folks to pay off the debt nor the 50% increase in less than four years. Partial solutions: Give 1/2 of SSI or welfare to any company hiring a single person who is not already working for the first two years of a job. Stop the flow of drugs into America to stop the yearly flow of billions of dollars to Mexico and Columbia. How? Drug test public sewers at the neighborhood level and then work upstream to the house. Double President Obamas deportation rate of illegal aliens. Not only will this open jobs for Americans but stop the flow of money outside America. Push sugar cane to ethanol production in Mexico to improve their lives and reduce our dependence on oil. I have more ideas if you ever want to have lunch.

We need to complete our draw-downs in Iraq and Afghanistan. We need to reduce defense spending and cut programs that are going nowhere fast (such as the F-35 program that seems to have cost overruns yearly). Politician salaries should not be tied to fiscal responsibility, but to the average wage growth for the American public. An overhaul of the tax code is required to take companies like GE to task for raking in billions of profits and receiving more billions in public money for tax refunds. We also need to accelerate merging of the 1100+ data centers the government currently manages to further reduce costs.

I want to make this very clear to you congressman Forbes. You sir bear enormous responsibilty for failing your constituency and your nation repeatedly over the past 12 years. You arrived in the congress along with President Bush to a balanced budget sir and we were paying down the national debt. You sir voted repeatedly for unwise tax cuts that plunged the nation into enormous debt that you refuse to acknowledge responsibilty for. In my view sir, your vote to shove this great nation into default last year disqualifies you for serving another term in the congress. The constituency has examined your record in detail sir, and I find your support for HR 3 which attempted to redefine rape incredibly offensive in that cosponsorship. It is obvious sir that you have no regret for this insensitivity by refusing to issue a public statement on this. But your vote to default on our debt, which you should know as a member of the judiciary committee strays from the language of the constitution. So we need you to stop sir with the diversionary language you have used above. As a constituent I was disgusted with your position that threatened to shutdown the government three times last year. I believe your default vote demonstrates a divisive arrogance designed to harm your nation and in turn harm your city and your citizens. You completely ignored the desperate pleas from the present and past Presidents, past and present Treasury secretaries, past and present chairmen of the Federal Reserve, the IMF, Nobel prize winning economists, economic scholars from across the country and CEO's of many of the nations largest corporations, the country's financial institutions and alarming concerns coming from our most loyal allies in the world. What on earth were you thinking sir? Your actions contributed significantly to the downgraded credit rating. This has harmed this country's businesses. You have failed to provide any pressure whatsoever to call upon your leadership to vote on the President's Jobs bill sent to you 1 YEAR ago now. You sir bear tremendous responsibility for the LOSS of 1 MILLION jobs that were estimated by the CBO to be at stake in this bill. Your inaction has added BILLIONS to our debt. You have been a part of what the public sees is the worst congress in the nation's history. During your tenure we have amassed over 10 TRILLION dollars of that debt. You offered nothing to pay for the wars. You have forced the military to pay millions of dollars in maintenance costs they told you they did NOT need or want. You have attempted to forced the Ryan budget upon the country and NEVER communicated with this constituency what this budget's details were and the impact this bill would have on our country. You have misled this constituency repeatedly regarding the Keystone pipeline that republican legislators in Nebraska voted unanimously they did NOT want routed through vital acquifer lands. You have misstated the number of jobs this project is projected to create. Let us not forget that you have had months now to act on sequestration and have done nothing at all. You guys even left town without acting on the farm bill in the middle of historic drought. I am VERY concerned you are asking for guidance on debt reduction when you misled the country on the stimulus and you know sir it was woefully inadequate at the time, based on projections of the economic hit that was 3 times worse than thought at the end of the Bush presidency. Don't you think you owe your constituents the truth regarding concerns that austerity programs have been harming America and other nations around the world? You have opposed health care reform and you voted to repeal advances saving lives and controlling costs. That vote was also repsonsible for adding over 100 billion dollars to our debt. I think the most unnerving position of all was opposing middle class tax cuts to preserve tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires. You have totally abandoned the middle class sir, year after year now. It is shameful that you refuse to rescind your commitment to the Grover Norquist blackmail pledge that prevents you from making any sound judgment with respect to the economy. You have created debt, opposed job creation, opposed health care cost containment, opposed financial industry reform and abandoned all claims to responsible stewardship of this nation's economy.

Stop Immigration until this mess is cleared out! Everybody needs an ID Card for Medical, License, entry into government facilities, and Voting, People without 100% disabilities should be required to work if they are receiving funds. Remove all non social security qualified people from that income source and pay them through a fund, make the states be their caretakers and if they don't work, US don't receive funds and immigrants go back home, Require immigrants to learn english as a second language, Protect our Borders to include the seas, use the military Army and Marines on land and the Navy and Coast Guard on sea and the air force in the air that includes drones.

Use the mortgage crises to become the solution. Give us paying customers a low rate like the non paying customers and extend our term to 32 years. I get a half payment which I wouldnt qualify for in my underwater house that I never missed a payment on and the tax man gets the first two years of interest payments directly to pay down the debt. How about taxing the "non profits" that are holding trillions in their coffers instead of supporting their stated non profit missions. How many trillions are tied up in non profit health cares and others?

ANY health care plan should include EVERYONE in the USA, no separate plan for the ones that are currently exempt. Please help investigate the hasty decision by Norfolk City council to remove eagle nests from Norfolk Botanical Garden. I understand the USDA-WS and FAA made recommendations, consider they were based on flawed/skewed data, from the FAA's own database. Norfolk isn't interested in being a role model for conservation, let's get Chesapeake to do it! Please do not respond that the issue is public safety, I have read and understand that is has been determined in the various reports. Have you ever heard of a city/county/etc being sued as a result of a plane hitting a flock of birds, or an individual hitting a deer, or a moose? Perhaps when two vehicles are involved in a car accident in our city, say on Johnstown Rd, Chesapeake should be a party to also sue... due to the inconsistent narrowing and widening of the current road. People watch the ditches as they drive, not the road.

We need to amend the constitution to repeal the income tax and institute the fair tax. It is the only way to end this mess we are in.

The very first thing that will return fiscal sanity - long before a balanced budget amendment - is to reduce the national government to its Constitutional duties and *only* its Constitutional duties. After that, you can discuss amendments and tax strategies and such. And, yes, this includes removing the federal government from SS, Medicare and Medicaid, and welfare funding. If you don't do this, then everything else is just bailing with a bigger bucket, while refusing to cover the hole staved in the side of the boat.

STOP SENDING BILLIONS OF OUR MONEY TO ALL THOSE FOREIGN COUNTRIES WHEN WE CAN NOT TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN. WE APPEAR NOW TO BE A WELFARE COUNTRY. WE HAVE MADE IT SO EASY FOR PEOPLE TO JUST STAY AT HOME AND LET THE GOVERNMENT TAKE CARE OF THEM . I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE JOBS DON'T EVEN HAVE TO LOOK FOR ONE ANYMORE. JUST STAY HOME AND DO WHAT YOUR WANT TO DO. I BELIEVE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING TAKEN CARE OF BY THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE TO DO SOME TYPE OF WORK (IF THEY ARE ABLE) TO EARN THEIR KEEP. MAYBE THEY COULD PICK UP TRASH AND CUT THE GRASS ALONG OUR HIGHWAYS. IN VA. WE PAY THE MEXICANS TO DO THIS JOB BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET OUR OWN LAZY AMERICANS TO DO ANY JOB WHICH REQUIRES A LITTLE WORK.

The Answer is all of the above with the exception of #6. Allow current tax cuts to expire. Also #1 is not feasable because it is simply too slow and the same thing can be accomplished much faster by introducing a bill that comprehensively gets rid of many anti-job creating agencies like the EPA and simply requiring other agencies that may have some worth to submit budgets that reduce spending every year by 10% intil the annual budget is balanced. Yes, this includes the military. Unfortunatly they are one of the worst money wasters. A few months ago they literally LOST $6.000,000,000, thats 6 billion in Aghanastan . No one is held accountable and no one is even looking for it. Ne4arly $60 billion in fraudulent claims at Meticare. Congressman, Forbes, the question is what have you done to get this money back and stop these losses in the future. No point in asking us what we think, if you are not going to introduce legislation to get rid of the fraud and waste. We are aware that it takes more that simply introducing a bill, butt that is the 1st step. If it is NOT passed, we want to know who voted against it, so that these representatives can be voted out.

My question is why after 35 years and numerous Dem/Rep. presidents, that the dept of energy has failed so miserably to achieve its goals. And yet millions are spent to sustain this failed department. If they cannot do better, then it should be dismantled and save the taxpayers money.

end corporate welfare--esp for oil companies give tax incentives to companies for bringing jobs back to this country give social security the power to shop for prices for drugs---like the va does pass laws to keep the government out of the bedroom and out of all a women's right to choose. make sure the government can not force doctors to probe a women's vaginal vault with instruments against her will and against the doctors best medical judgement (sounds like a rape by instrument to me). tax monies americans and american companies stash over seas to cheat the government tax.

Sadly sir you did not provide an option I felt would answer your question. You should not be elected again, and I hope others join with me to ensure that you're not. Voting against what's best for this country despite the consequences to fulfill a pledge of making a President a one term President is reckless and abhorrent. Term limits for congress and senate would be an excellent start. Career politicians are only concerned about the wealth of themselves and their friends. Lobbying ensures you all stay wealthy, even when decisions are made that are not in Americas best interest. The decision to gridlock was not a good idea, none of you will be re-elected because of it.

Why don't we just eliminate the IRS altogether and just have a flat tax rate. Eliminate all the loopholes-make it fair. Big government is our problem-downsize! Just like we have all had to do. I wish I could vote myself a raise like congress can. Also, why are the rich being punished for being successful-working hard. Now they have to bail everyone else out? Those that receive welfare need to have drug testing before receiving benefits. Welfare benefits need to be limited-and those receiving need to seek gainful employment unless disabled.

i agree 100% with Thomas G.. you are a total fraud as are many of your Republican buddies. You need to be doing everything you can to raise revenue. Repeal the Bush tax cuts. Repeal al "free" trade agreements which take far more jobs than they create. Initiate an import tax or tariff on all manufactured goods. It will generate revenue as well as provide incentives to bring manufacturing back. Do you remember what brought foriegn auto manufacturers to our soil ? Seal our borders. Deport ALL illegals. Initiate a border crossing fee for anyone crossing in any direction to help offset the cost of security checks and reduce the border traffic. initiate a nationl lottery. It generates a lot of money for states and could do the same for the fed. Repay the money that has been "borrowed" from s.s.. take the earnings cap of s.s. withholdings. i If you did ANYTHING it would be a far cry from anything you've done so far.

Reduce the number of IRS and EPA enployees by at least 50%. Take a hard look at the Department of Education. Stop the flow of cash to any unfriendly country, kick the U.N. out of the U.S. and stop funding them. Ramp up (quickly) the off shore and ANWR drilling.

First things first for a few bloggers....Entitlements are trust funds in which people, in the trust fund plan paid into. For example, Employees paid a percentage of their paycheck (matched by employers) into Social Security and Medicare plans which was supposed to financially supplement employees upon retirement and provide medical aid in their senior years. Also, Federal employees paid into their retirement trust fund at a much higher rate (almost double) than private industry employees into Social Security which again the Congress was supposed to protect for their retirement. In addition, federal employees also paid into the Medicare program just like private citizens. Congress, in their infinite wisdom, decided that the money collected from these programs was to be deposited into the general fund and the money needed to operate the fund would be allocated each year. Congress issued government bonds (IOU's) to the account(s) to cover the plans, but spent the money that was deposited into the general fund, in many cases for frivolous budgetary items which we've all heard about. However, there are many entitlement give away programs which need to be individually addressed. Now to comment about the blog: 1. Eliminate all foreign aid; 2. eliminate all funds to the UN and all unnecessary contributions; 3. eliminate further military efforts in Afganistan; 4. eliminate duplicate government services and departments that no longer serve a real function and/or turn over to the states to decide if needed (it's easy to find these duplicate departments, just look at the mountain of regulations to do just about anything, then start eliminating, example EPA); 5. cut legislative / Congressional office budgets; 6. cut presidential staff and budgets; eliminate executive Presidential decision authority that costs money other than for the protection of this Nation and its citizens; 7. Enact a BALANCED BUDGET Constitutional AMENDMENT requirement for citizen consideration with a time frame to achieve; 8. fix the tax system via flat tax; 9. increase tax on import goods; 10. eliminate the billions of dollars spent on illegal immigrants via initiating incarcerated work compounds in which inmates produce a product to pay for their incarceration; 11. eliminate pork projects (every dollar saved counts); 12. eliminate "give a way programs" in which recipients have not contributed; 13. Eliminate Obamacare for a more palatable health care reform system which all insurance carriers and medical professionals would be required to support without further government involvement.........This list could go on and on, but all it needs right now is for some brave Congressman and Senator to just take one item and start something....Go through the lists provided by bloggers, investigate (with the tax paying citizens who are affected vice the bean counters) and do the right thing.....Now that Pelosi is out and Biden/Reid is on their way out, maybe there will be room for a bill on the Senate floor vice being blocked....God Bless America.

Simplify the tax code by starting over. Everyone who earns any money should pay some taxes. Only then will they appreciate how the government spends its money. Five graduated tiers would work with the highest tier no more than 30%. No exceptions for capital gains, no exceptions for dependents no exceptions. Then reduce federal rules and regs at least in half. Most are ridiculous. Which means cutting the number of federal employees in half. Lastly enforce the tax code so it stays fair. The honor system isn't working so well.

Cut taxes. Not just go to a flat rate with no loopholes - but cut the rates. Historically both increase tax revenues (we tax to high so its beyond the peek recovery point for the gov) and the simplification and cuts would expand the tax revenue - as well as attract investment, and save hundreds of billions a year in filing and enforcing the tax laws. Much smaller government. Much less taxes. Flat, no loophole, taxes.

PASS THE JOBS BILL.

The Honorable Mr. Forbes and the Republican Party, in support for Governor Romney's campaign, should propose every American contribute $1.00 or more of their income tax refund for 2012 toward reduction of the Federal debt. Personally, I will donate as much of my refund (assuming I will get one) as my budget permits to save this great Nation from further decline. I'll drink one less cup of coffee or forego that mid-morning snack toward this cause. Gov. Romney would be well served to call on all Americans to make this sacrifice, a seemingly small gesture toward unity in solving this devastating fact of our lives.

We all are aware of the frantic spending that goes on all across the Federal Government in October each year while they try to spend all the monies they have been budgeted for the year, whether the resultant purchases are necessary or not. The waste is ridiculous. There are enormous numbers of programs that overlap or are duplicative. The process to integrate and or eliminate these programs should be started immediatly. In addition... and especially ... 1) Stop all bonuses. 2) Guarantee every department, bureau and/or agency that their budgets will hold at present levels for at least 3 yrs (pick a number). 3) All federal employees will be encouraged to save at all junctures and at every opportunity. (No more thousands of dollars junkets, seminars and 'get-a-ways'. 4) Finally, 10% of all savings realized (pick a percentage) will be split equally among all employees. 5) At the end of 3 - 4 - 5 yrs, the budget numbers will be revisited and, in light of the lessened spending will be lowered accordingly, but not drastically. 6) Once budgets have become more realistic, 'special' budget items will be allowed on a case by case basis. New computers, system upgrades, new furniture, wiring, etc are not considered on-going, day to day expenses and should be allowed as a 'special' budget item as needed. Needless to say, these should be stringently monitered. You've heard about the carrot and the stick, right? Well, maybe a few carrots will get the frugality started. Nothing seems to work so maybe enlightened self-interest will do the trick. In addition... no government employees and especially lawmakers should have any retirement or medical plan that Americans don't have. Social Security?? That should be the only retirement plan that our federal employees and legislators have. MediCare?? Upon retirement, that should be the only medical plan that federal retirees have. Just as the rest of us have to scramble to buy supplemental Medicare plans, so too should government employees. I wonder how fast both federally mandated programs would become solvent if federal employees and legislatures thought it would be all they had when they retired? I do believe in term limits.

We need to stop giving non citizens welfare! Stop borrowing money to help other nations, if we don't have it to give, do something else. Stop/Police the welfare and unemployment fraud! Defending our country isn't wasteful.... paying for deadbeats is wasteful and shameful.

I'm for a flat and fair tax system. Lets close ALL the loopholes, backets & class warefare and inact a tax system thats fair for all with everyone paying the same rate. As outlined in the book on the subject, those truly less fortunate will have their taxes fully refunded. Forget carveouts and loopholes; very few complain about sales tax because regardless of ones station in life, everyone pays the same rate. Purchase an expensive item, you pay more. Less expensive and the tax bill is lower. We need a comprehensive overhaul of the tax system and just as importabtly, spending habits before austerity comes home to the United States.

If businesses lose money, leaders are replaced. Accountability works. We the people have the power to replace the leaders that continue to place our great nation and way of life at risk.

Why not have a national lottery with profits dedicated to reducing the national debt? Also, a flat tax is imperative; we cannot long continue when 50% of Americans pay no income tax.

Thank you for allowing me to respond: 1. Tell Obama to keep his hands off of my Social Security. It doesn't belong to him and I did not give him permission to take it. 2. Shame on him for what he is doing to healthcare, he stated that if you already have insurance, you can keep it but he forgot to tell you that the company that you worked for over 40 years drops you and your family cause theywill pay the penalty and save money. Their is no loyalty to the retired employees and he knew this would happen so now this will throw many more people under the gov't. rules. 3. Just check around and see how many Dr's are not accepting Medicare patients anymore. As this healthcare goes forward and Dr's reimbursement is less and less, they will retire or go into a pay as you go system. Coming down the pike is a group/panel of wanna be's directing YOUR healthcare and if you are over a certain age, then you will be thrown under the bus to fend for yourself. Another gov't controlled decision. 4. As for the rest of the mess they have created, the only way things will get straightened out is to get rid of all of them and put someone in there who cares about our great country and not tell me what is good for me. I'm old enough to figure that out for myself 5. God help us and God Bless this great nation

Randy, it's my belief that we need to get control of so many illegal aliens in VA. Every time I go to Walmart, it appears that there are more and more illegals there shopping and, I went today and saw several now working which are taking the jobs for legal residents. I asked one if children's coats were out yet, she could hardly speak English. It is terrible that this year along, we will spend $7.3 billion on illegals vs last years $4.3 billion. They are able to get assistance without any questions due to the children's act; yet when my mom passed away in 2010, I brought my stepfather home to live with my husband and I because he couldn't afford to live my himself. This year his insurance went up $60.00. It seems to me if you cannot live my yourself, how can you be expected to pay an additional $60.00 for insurance, but the illegals get assistance without questions asked. This really bothers me.

Stop foreign aid, bring home the military, eliminate the EPA, Dept Education, DOE and other out of control bureaucracies. Give the people back the money stolen from Social Security and in the flubbed bailout. That's a start.

The free healthcare plan that members of Congress receive should be revoked. Our tax dollars should not be paying for healthcare, even for the rich people in Congress. Also, stop the military spending. We have no need to spend as much money on military and war as we already do. No need to support the military industrial complex and buy billion dollar jets and tanks. Research, Science, and Education are needed, not bombs. No more nation building.

I don't understand why, at the top level, there is squabbling over what gets cut or what laws/rules have to pass to get that done. At the top level, you REQUIRE a percentage of the debt+interest per year to be cut off of the top line to meet a zero debt target, not to keep it under a cap. Additionally, spending cannot exceed the remainder of the yearly revenue and no new taxes can be levied until the debt is gone. This shouldn't be voted on by Congress, this should be constitutional. Debt should only be for retaliatory war or mass famine and it should require a 4/5 vote in both houses. And once in debt, the rules should be automatically in place for how it gets paid back. If we pay debt first, then Congress can squabble all it wants over how the remainder gets spent. Don't want to anger your voters by having to cut programs? Then don't get into debt in the first place. Want to raise taxes? Get out of debt first, we're not giving you more when you can't control yourself. Want to bail out the next Fannie and Freddie? Only if you have a surplus to draw from or you cut something else. Want to make a thousand missiles for Communist bogeymen? Better have a surplus. Want a big hope and change package? Better have a surplus. Things get easier for everyone to understand when topline budgets are absolute.

FAIR TAX FAIR TAX FAIR TAX

Quit paying the presidents after they leave office and no health insurance. That will take a big chunk out of the deficit.

America has a debt crisis and it is largely due to a spending addiction that Washington doesn't seem to care about. Step 1 is cut the spin and tell taxpayers the truth about our problem. Part of the truth will be a real federal budget--one that is passed by both houses of Congress and signed by the President. Step 2 is to slash discretionary spending as deep and fast as possible. We're overextended and Congress shouldn't have approved spending beyond our means in the first place. Step 3 is where the real pain begins--entitlement spending reduction. As is the case with discretionary items, we have no business spending money we don't have. If slowdowns or cuts are necessary in SS, Medicare, and other welfare entitlements lets have a national debate, make the tough decisions, and get on with it. We can't solve a spending problem by spending the same bloated amounts and crying for "the rich" to pay more and more taxes to cover the tab. Step 4 is getting government off the backs of businessmen and women so they can grow their businesses. Growing businesses hire people and both the businesses and the employees pay more taxes. Start by suspending environmental regulations and other government obstacles to domestic energy production and use. We need all the domestic energy we can produce and workers in this sector are well compensated. Step 5 is a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. The lengthy process of adopting such an amendment should begin immediately.

Randy, you have asked the balanced budget constitutional question several times over the past two years. How long is it going to take you to make up your mind? You should have a deep awareness of the danger in doing something like this. You cannot even communicate the perils of this idea to the voters. That is very irresponsible Mr. Forbes. We sent you to congress to manage the nation's finances. What we got during your tenure was 10 TRILLION dollars in debt. You borrowed billions of dollars to finance tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires and there were no jobs created as you promised. Just do your job sir with rational urgency. Please rescind your commitment to the Grover Norquist blackmail pledge.

I suggest that our Federal government undergo a deliberate, department by department and agency by agency, phased overhaul. No organization would be exempt. Each organization should be evaluated to determine if the work the agency purports to do is directed by the U.S. Constitution, necessary and needed; if the organization’s stated goals and objectives are valid, if any of those goals/objectives have ever been met (and how effectively were the results), and what, if anything, is the taxpayer’s return on investment. I strongly question the need for the Departments of Education and Energy. If the U.S. Federal Tax Code is simplified, the IRS should be significantly slashed. The DHS should be broken up because it is a monstrosity that is too difficult to manage and is out of control. The TSA should be inactivated and private security (like those currently used in some airports) allowed to compete for contracts to provide airport security. The Federal Reserve should undergo an immediate audit and be brought under Congressional control. Every program, department, agency, bureau or Federal government entity should be subject to independent review and audit. While these steps are in progress, the Federal budgeting process must be changed to one where departments and agencies present and justify all their needs every two years. It’s often common practice for Federal agencies to take a previous year’s budget and, with little thought other than adding 5-10 percent, submit that to Congress. That practice must end. Most importantly, suggest that departments and agencies be recognized and rewarded for successful cost-saving initiatives and bringing projects to completion early and/or under budget. If this type of program management was recognized and rewarded, government leaders would look for ways to streamline and cut overhead, not pad budgets and go into frenzied spending sprees during the last quarter of the fiscal year as is past and current practice.

Hey, Randy..you needed an "All of the Above" choice because all these things need to be done. I noticed no mention this week of Taxmageddon looming for ALL Americans come 1 Jan. Must have thought that if they ignore it, it will go away. Delusions reigned in Charlotte this week.

To Thomas G...oh lighten up already. Congressman Forbes is one guy in the House. He fights for conservative measures and keeps getting re-elected by a majority of us in the district...must be doing something right.

How about everything above but the reducing of regulations and cut the lifetime salary benefits for elected officials. Limit the time said officials can serve just like the president. The time is coming that the American people are going to invoke their bill of rights to clear the government of the officials that are NOT doing the peoples bidding. This was proven over the last 4 yrs of inaction to spite the president. WE THE PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF IT. We are starting to realize that it is not the President that is the problem. A Patriot to the end. Scott G Swartz

A top to bottom review of all federal agencies for compliance with the FEW AND DEFINED powers of the Federal Government as described in the U.S. Constitution and eliminate those agencies and departments that do not have a Constitutionally Authorized or Directed function. I would also consider heavy cuts to the pay and staff of all members of Congress and in the White House.

Congressman Forbes, On June 15, 2012, President Obama issued a directive to Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, directing her to order law enforcement agents to ignore Federal Immigration law. This appears to be a violation of the US Constitution (Article 1 Section 8). Specifically, what are you going to do about this? The President is supposed to support and defend the Constitution, not pick and choose which laws he likes and which he doesn't feel like enforcing. The Dream Act failed, and for this President to ignore that voice of the people and decide he knows better what is best for the people, sets him up to be a King George, not a duly elected servant of the people. Please tell me Republicans have a plan because their current silence, especially at the RNC, makes you all to appear complicit. We cannot have a President who ignores the laws he doesn't like. Dems used to agree with that, at least they did when they went after Ollie North and President Reagen. Obama is ignoring the law, right out in the open, poking his finger in everyone's eye and people appear to be frozen and doing nothing about it. Have we no law against a rogue President who does not honor his oath? Sincerely, Steve Smith

Why are we still in Afghanistan?

All of the above except allowing current tax cuts to expire. Keep the tax cuts. Also, discontinue lifetime salaries for the President, VP, Congress, Senate, etc.. They should live off ss like the rest of us. Stop the houses from adding riders to bills that don’t have anything to do with the bill. Ex: appropriations stopped. Eliminate federal & state travel expenditures, especially the White House travel. Too extravagant. Eliminate US Departments of Education, Energy, etc. Wasteful. Stop foreign aid.

One thing to reduce debt would be for the federal government to manage all procedural issues associated with the American right to vote for every state. What has been done by republican legislature all across the nation has been designed to thwart democracy and these are racist motives as well. These legislatures apparently think the electorate is stupid. It is very concerning that representatives on the judiciary committee have been virtually invisible on this issue. Action to reign in the abuses occuring in states is not only appropriate but will ultimately reduce costs. As far as voting is concerned going to weekend voting would greatly expand participation and promote public awareness of the issues and we all benefit from this.

Typical poll questions written in such a way to emphasize the congressman's Tea Party agenda. I am not going to repeat the points posted by the always thoughtful Thomas G. (see his post above). Thanks, Thomas G. , you are a breath of fresh air in District 4. We need to eliminate tax cuts for the wealthy as a start, instead of trying to make us believe that they are the job creators and need our welfare to exist. If they were truly the job creators we would be up to our eyebrows in jobs. Rather it is we the consumers who creat the jobs by our demand for goods and services. I frankly see no concern on the part of the congressman for the poor and disadvantaged among us, while his main concern seems to be supporting defense contractors and upholding his pledge to Grove Norquist.

I have often said I would run for Congress for $1.00 per year and donate that to a charity and challenge the rest of congress to follow my lead (donate 100% of your paycheck for a year to charity). Congressional leaders are out of touch. How much is a 1st class stamp? How much is a gallon of milk? Any parent can give you the answers off the top of their head. The sad part is so many families are now deciding between the purchase of a gallon of gas or a gallon of milk. Put me in Congress. You want a balanced budget, I'll give you one, the same way I balance mine-no money, no purchases this week. I don't use credit cards, just my debit card. Ditch the bank of China, pay your bills and start a 401k you have to pay into for your retirement. Return to the Old School-you ain't got it, you can't spend it....and don't get me started on Obama care. When I vote this year, I will NOT re-elect anyone in office. What will happen then? Nothing? Maybe we can hear some new fables, I'm tired of the current ones. God Bless America Respectfully, A small town gal that has a big broom to clean up your mess.

The only answer to solve our debt problem is that it must be met with steady increase of new companies creating jobs. It has to be done in a steady increase. If we are to change how people do business and how they get paid, it needs to be done in steps. Since people are resistant to change; education needs to be part of the equation to change things. Education must be part of the equation to make necessary changes to people's lives and how they get paid. There is this thing called momentum. People are resistant to change, where momentum=0. Then for them to go to new ways of doing business, where momentum=100. There must be energy to change things for a minimum amount of time. Just like landing a plane on a smooth transaction, it cannot be done in one swoop. It must be done on a smooth transaction. On the job training should be greatly expanded. These places for people to receive this training include, car repair shops, construction employers, and electrical contractors, just to name a few. As the employee gains jobs skills, the company would pay a greater percentage of pay. You begin an equation of 100 percent government spending and 0 percent private spending. This government spending includes food stamps, welfare, and Medicaid expenditures. This private spending includes paychecks and jobs retraining costs. Why not give new grants to hire people on these programs? If the total grants were less than these government payments, than it would make perfect financial sense to implement. As your final goal, you may want to go to 0 percent government spending and 100 percent private spending. The y-axis may represent government spending and the x-axis may represent time. Then you calculate the smooth transition from government spending to that of private spending. If you transition this change of type of payments too fast, you will find big turbulence in people's lives and to the world's financial markets. I believe it will take all Americans, whether you are a Republican, Democrat, TEA party or liberal, to finally solve our economic challenges. I believe it will take "a village" of people with different talents to start and run new "proudly made in the USA" companies. Can an idea from a TEA party person build upon a business concept of a Liberal? I believe this answer is a YES! I was at an unemployment support group then I realized, there were enough different talents to start and run new companies. There were those with lots of new ideas (a Liberal) and those who are great with the details (TEA party person). Not to mention there were accountants, sales, IT, HR people, just to name a few. By working together, we may discover huge synergy to create many new jobs. There ought to be a new APP developed, so where you enter your career or your talents, then it matches you with other talents to make up a team to create new companies. In conclusion, our answers to our economic challenges can be found no further than the people in that same unemployment line we are in. YES, it will take "a village" of people to finally solve our economic challenges! By us working together will not only solve our unemployment problems, we stand united for the world to see. Education needs to be part of the equation to change things, as well. And finally you must not change from entitlements to that of private pay too fast. It will be met high unemployment, like that of Spain with 25 percent. These are my opinions of how we solve our deficit problem. It must be done in a gradual process and contain lots of education.

1. Stimulus monies should be directed to infra- structure rebuild such as bridges , roads, sanitary and water projects with reduced bureaucratic oversight which only consumes the spending with no improvements accomplished or job creation. 2. A repeal of the current tax code and implementation of a flat or fair tax with everyone paying the same percentage regardless of income . This should include businesses as well. 3. Remove the cap on Social Security taxes paid

In response to Adrian Ash, first I applaud your position. This appears to be a good position for someone like yourself that earns a military pension. Looking at the bigger picture, some in the civilian sector will not earn a pension. What happens to these citizens in retirement? Some corporations and sellout politicians have sought to limit pensions with the ultimate goal of eliminating them entirely. Meaning the percentage of citizens without pensions will likely continue to grow in the future. For these citizens, social security and Medicare will be a crucial part of retirement. A driving problem with social security and Medicare is fraud. If this was brought under control by our elected officials, the size of the deficit would shrink significantly. The other main problem here is a lack of revenue. Last year revenues were at their lowest point since 1950 (14.8% of GDP). This lack of revenue is an unsustainable path. Lifting the payroll tax cap (currently $110K) would go a long way to solving the social security and Medicare deficit.

I take total exception with the comments by Thomas G. You, thankfully have been one of the few in Washington who has tried to call the nation back to responsible debt management. As individuals, we all know what happens when we mismanage our personal finances and continually spend more than we earn. I support your candidacy and that of others seeking national office who seek to tackle the financial challenges we face, including measures that may "hurt" at first. No one seems to want to "tighten their belt" anymore. Though I believe you have served us well, I favor an amendment that would limit the terms of Congressmen and Senators similarly to limits placed on the Presidency and Governors [no more than two consecutive terms for President and one for Governor (at least in this state)] I feel that would help to prevent the formation of extreme political blocs and reduce the influence of special interest groups. Anyone who seriously studies the history of the writing of our Constitution realizes that our Founding Fathers never intended for there to be "career" politicians.

Strongly recommend that we start reducing the size and influence of the Department of Education. As we have thrown more money at it, it has only grown and become more expensive while "dumbing down" our younger generations and making many feel that we owe them the education rather than them earning it. While growing up, I was well below middle class. But I worked, made it through college with a little help from my parents by working all summer (no vacations to Cancun, Miami, Aruba, etc.), working part time during each semester, not having an automobile, the "necessary" electronic gadgets for continuous non-productive communication, and many of the other things that provide mind numbing rather than mind stimulating. I graduated in civil engineering and during my career expanded that to other fields of engineering. Over the past twenty plus years I have tutored lots of children (all volunteer) in mathematics and physics. From this experience, the "dumbing down" has become very evident. I have discussed this issue with teachers, from multiple states, who are given guidelines based on federal requirements that they have to meet (Standards of Learning (SOL) in Virginia) and there is a lot of frustration on their part because of these regulations. The Department of Education, like most beauracricies, has ended up primarily growing itself vice the citizens they were conceptually designed to grow. It is time that we start removing this; it did not outgrow its usefulness, it never was useful!

ANOTHER WAY TO REDUCE SPENDING WOULD BE ENDING RETIREMENT BENEFITS FOR THOSE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE THAT SERVE ONLY ONE TERM.

Return to Clinton era tax rates. Put people to work re-building infrastructure. Support our vets but get a grip on military spending. Stop pretending this is a scientific poll. You insult the intelligence of your constituents by suggesting it is.

Dear Congressman Forbes, I wanted to pass along the comments of former republican senator Alan Simpson to you and to the rest of the constituency here who also would like for you to rescind your commitment to the Grover Norquist blackmail pledge harming the nation. Here are Senator Simpson's remarks : "For heaven’s sake, you have Grover Norquist wandering the earth in his white robes saying that if you raise taxes one penny, he’ll defeat you,” he added. “He can’t murder you. He can’t burn your house. The only thing he can do to you, as an elected official, is defeat you for reelection. And if that means more to you than your country when we need patriots to come out in a situation when we’re in extremity, you shouldn’t even be in Congress.”

In all due respect, this is a worthless poll. It is astonishing vague in implication. Please go back to the drawing board and give the constituents something cohesive they can rationally counsel you on. Come on congressman.

I doubt that you read, let alone heed, any thing written by your constituents posted hear but ... as a retired member of the military I saw more than my share of wasteful spending. In my unit if we didn't spend every single dollar we had in excess by 30 September we would lose it in the next fiscal year. Otherwise use it or lose mentality. Military units should be allowed to bank all funds not used in a fiscal year. All lobbyists and their slush money should be band from ever touching the hands or the bank accounts of any elected official. Just looking at our congressman in Virginia's 4th district shows that his hand is out (http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00013799&cycle=2012) accepting money from PACs and defense conctractors. Campaign contributors that aren't persons nor do these not existent persons live within the district. (http://www.opensecrets.org/influence/index.php). The defense industry spends their $17,579,225 on Members of Congress whose districts have a large military influence. That's just the interest group. The defense industry PAC amounts to $12,233,728 and the list goes on. Will Rogers was correct when he stated "American's have the best politicians monay can buy." It would hurt all if the temporary tax cuts expired but we expect the government to undertake services on our behalf that require funding. Bottomline is that we must choose between having a government that can serve us because they are funded to the extent necessary or we go on a go it alone philosophy as those in the Tea Party seem to strongly endorse. Tea Party wants to defund FEMA. The Tea Party around Hampton Roads seems to have totally forgotten about the numerous hurricanes that have damaged us. But, members of the same Tea Party are there with their hands out wanting FEMA to cover damage done to their property. They just don't want to pay for it. The stimulus funds package would have worked if the money had gone for one simple goal, to repair America's crumbling infracture. No, every single Member of Congress, Democrat or Republican, had their handout begging for money while the Republicans were screaming that it was such a waste of money. America has infrastructure that has a grade of D+ as per the American Society of Civil Engineers. This is a major homeland security that must be addressed now, not after after. Social Security taxes aren't lievied above taxable income level of $110,100. Why? Because those very well off paid for that loophole. The American Middle Class suffers. The tax code has gotten to the point that unless you have a PhD in astrophysics you won't be able to understand it. However, Congress says we must reform the tax code. That's secret squirrel speak for we need to create more secret loopholes for the ultrawealthy to hide the money they made in America in offshore bank accounts to escape paying a fair share of taxes as they benefit from the same services that they demand from the government that the Middle Class require. Simple math regarding the deficit: George W Bush entering the White House: $17,907,000,000 George W Bush leaving the White House $1,885,104,000,000 Why? Because the two "wars" were never budgeted. They were paid for, the costs where done under emergency appropriations. So what the mititary bought in 2002 or 2007 this country is still paying for today. Since the conflicts in both Iraq and Afghanistan were never budgeted but put on the government's credit card we will continue to pay until the balance is zero. I'll like to thank my fellow Republicans for that slight of hand trick.

James, James, James the voters need to swing the Meat Ax and fire all You People in Congress. No matter the results of your Bologna piety in asking these ignominious questions, "You People" in Congress are too deep in the back pockets of Special Interest for us to put "You People" on the right course of action for this great Nation. All "You People" in Congress are in dire need of Spiritual, Guidance.... and or Freudian Counseling. James, I "m gonna tell you and the rest of Congress just like Clint Eastwood said in Tampa, but then"You People" can't do that to yourself. James, you've got Ba... to keep asking month in month out these B. S. questions when "You People" in Congress can't agree on if Errk Cantor will smile or not this month.

Cut back on defense spending. Joint training with the armed services of other countries should make us realize that they are ready to support and supplement our military. Allow the militry and not defense contractors and politicians to make the decisions on weaponry needed.

No more foreign aid, no more wars to protect political/corporate interests abroad. Repudiate the majority of the debt. We certainly did not vote on it, and most assuredly did not approve of the vast gaggle of nonsense congress votes to 'fund' every year. NO MORE TAXES. You folks already work vigorously at developing new and creative ways to extract more revenue from us, and between you and the ever-metastasizing state and local governments, the American people are being nickle-and-dimed to death. The once robust middle-class in this country is being sacrificed on the altar of protecting the status quo of the power-elite and the ever growing constituency of people totally dependent on the 'benevolence' of a 'caring' government. Then again, it's much easier to control a population full of dependents, than free-thinking men and women in control of their own lives and destinies, eh? CUT spending at ALL levels. Reduce the size of government at ALL levels. There is not a revenue problem in this country, there is a SPENDING problem. Enough is enough, we are TOTALLY BANKRUPT, and it has NOTHING to do with not taking enough from the people.

Many small business owners can't take a salary in order to keep the company running. With so many millionaires/billionaires in Congress, why shouldn't the ones who don't need the salary stop taking a salary, including the Pres. and V.P? Use the money to contribute to the debt or meet expenses without borrowing money? Get rid of wasteful spending on "pork" and cut back aide to countries who are not friendly to the USA. Tighten the Gov't belt just like private businesses do to stay in business! There is too much greed in Congress.

Mr. Congressman: Since your in such a hurry to point to the deficit as a major problem with our current President, could you please tell us "How Much " are the two unfunded wars, are part of said deficit? You seem to have all the facts and figures but you fail to mention what these wars are costing the U.S tax payer each year. Also I think we should be told how much of the deficit is, as a result of the 10 plus years of the Iraq & Afganistan wars. I assume you will not answer these two questions, since it doesn't fit your political agenda. Which I have been saying all along your nothing more than a politician, which is why you have these silly political motivated polls.

With all respect to the concerned comments made on this blog, I don't feel they are based upon a full understanding of the crisis America now faces. Monetary policies cannot correct bad political policies. If we could fix America the economy would fix itself. What does "fix America" mean? The short answer is that we need to manufacture ourselves what we use, grow our own food, have an indigenous energy supply dedicated to meeting, not the world's but, America's energy needs and borders that are defended not negotiated. It does not appear to me that the full magnitude of our present financial situation is clearly understood. Presently every penny the government receives in tax revenue is spent to meet just four government obligations. Federal tax revenues are completely exhausted after funding social security, Medicare/Medicaid, national defense and making the interest payment on our national debt. This means that the forty cents America borrows for every dollar it spends is the money required to finance the thousands of remaining government programs. Everyone needs to think about and fully understand this reality when they consider what must be done to rectify our growing sixteen trillion dollar national debt. The plain truth is that even if we were to act responsibly now it will require the better part of this century to dig ourselves out of the debt this government has placed on our backs and only possible then if we were to take the unprecedented step of simply eliminating all future unfunded government liabilities. It is imperative that wealth production in the form of manufacturing and heavy industry be returned to these shores, whatever is required. If this doesn't happen no recovery is possible. If we take the proper steps now by returning manufacturing to a home in America and demonstrate to the world that we are a sane and sober people by cutting government spending our hundred years of effort to reclaim America's greatness need not be a trail of tears. Wealth creation will stimulate growth in every sector of our economy during this recovery period. While cutting government spending alone cannot generate an American recovery, showing the world that we are a serious responsible people would bring what sane money there is left in this world here in the form of investments in our,once again, growing economy.

Why not to to real zero-based budget system? Roll back spending to 2008 levels, and force all Federal departments to live withing the budgets they had for that year.

Heck...Congress can't even get a deficit budget passed. How about any year Congress doesn't pass a budget no memeber can run for re-election. When GDP grows to an appropriate level (say 2.0+) Congress must pass a balanced budget.

Where's the additional money/revenue to come from? Billions of $ are sitting in retirement accounts with investors wanting good investment options. What is cheap right now? Real estate. Forclosures and distressed properties still abound. How about a temporary modification to the code allowing up to $200K being withdrawn for the purchase of a forclosed property in the US, at a modest tax/fee of 10%. new revenue for the fed, less financial burden on our banks, good investment of our retirement money with the potential for significant appreciation.

With respect to aligning pay with the growth of spending I find the idea silly frankly. Why not tie pay to the cost of unfunded war specifically? In fact, if you want to tie pay to the growth of spending why not make this retroactive to the date of a representatives first vote in congress? What would be interesting is seeing your specific proposal on that congressman Forbes. What is the formula and what would your pay have been for each of 12 years you have been in congress in which our debt has risen 10 TRILLION dollars? If this is one of the options you want us to consider, then please provide the details so we can assess this in your case specifically?

Randy, I thought your constituents would be interested in some research on the growth of federal spending. You will find this research on the web site of Forbes, ironically. It turns out that President Obama blows every president from Eisenhower on in terms of holding the line on spending. Surprise, Surprise, Surprise! So it would serve your district well to make this information available, I'm sure you do not want to perpetuate a lie do you, or do you? The facts are dramatic sir, and it isn't even close. If constituents want the truth then start pointing them to it sir. If you won't, then I will.

To Beth : You ponder, gee congressman Forbes must have done something right. Well what on earth would that be? I'm willing to listen to you make the case but you did not communicate one. Why is it that the 4th district should be satisfied with a performance leading to 10 TRILLION in debt, 4 TRILLION in war debt with no proposal to pay for any of it. What conservative principle wipes out trillions of dollars in wealth in financial industry collapse the 'principles' disguised as gambling? Fighting for failure, and that is exactly what people are pointing to on this blog is not the kind of representation the 4th district deserves. We didn't elect an invisible congressman. With so much on the line our congressman even ducked a townhall meeting for his entire term, even in his own hometown. If you truly believe that one man cannot make a difference I will lay out the case in dramatic ways for you.

Randy, we know that you trumpet the fact that you refused to support the Economic Recovery Act and you preferred to allow hundreds of bank failures, destruction of the auto industry and that you voted to shove the nation into default to harm American business. We know this, we do not understand the bizarre claim to wisdom of these event, but we know this. But here is something the constituents need to be told that you are hiding from them in my view. ----- Michael Grunwald is a national correspondent for Time Magazine and author of “The New New Deal: The Hidden Story of Change in the Obama Era,” a reported history of the stimulus. We spoke last week. A lightly edited transcript of our conversation follows. Ezra Klein: Let’s begin with the obvious question. Did the stimulus work? Michael Grunwald: Everything people think they know about the stimulus is wrong. It was called the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and it did produce a short-term recovery. We dropped 8.9 percent of GDP in Q4 2008. We lost 800,000 jobs in January 2009. We passed the stimulus. And then the next quarter we saw the biggest jobs improvement in 30 years. The long-term reinvestment part is working. It spent $90 billion for clean energy when we were spending just a few billion a year. It’s doubled renewable energy. It’s started an electric battery industry from scratch. It jump-started the smart grid. It’s bringing our pen-and-paper medical system into the digital age. It’s got Race to the Top which is the biggest education program in decades. It’s got the biggest middle-class tax cuts since the Reagan era. It prevented seven million people from falling behind the poverty line.

Quoting the pro conservative pro republican Heritage Foundation…nice try. Next time try quoting a nonpartisan source. Yes, closing tax loop holes for citizens with incomes or capital gains over $1M per year is a good place to start. Here’s one example, the Guardian estimated worldwide there is $20T - $30T held in off shore accounts (tax avoidance). For arguments sake, let’s say half that belongs to U.S. citizens (about $15T). Using the 15% capital gains rate, that’s $2.25T in taxes not paid per year. Closing this one loop hole could have generated a theoretical $22.5T over the last ten years. My numbers here are strictly estimates, however they clearly illustrate the magnitude of this one loop hole problem. If you want to reform entitlements let’s start with congressional retirements. Where does it make sense that a congressman is eligible for pension after only five years of service? Additionally, this pension will not exceed 80% of final salary? I’m not sure why a congressman needs a pension in the first place, however, since this is law lets reform it. First congressional pensions will be earned after 25 years of continuous service only. This will be 50% of base pay calculated as the arithmetic mean average of the last ten years of service (high ten). Any member convicted of ethics violations, tax avoidance schemes or violating any federal law--during service or after retirement--forfeits their pension. Let’s see if these changes bring about a more trust worthy and hardworking congress.

Regarding regulations it is worth noting a couple of things. First, the independent CBO released a report this summer that dramatically discredits congressman Forbes claim regarding the impact of regulations on business. The republicans have vastly overstated the issue in negative terms. It is disturing that congressman Forbes has been acting to repeal historic financial industry regulations, supported by the Federal Reserve, to address the very abuses that lead to the financial collapse in the first place. I have to bluntly ask you congressman, when are you going to cease acting to harm your country, harm your city and harm the citizens you were sent there to represent? I believe it is worth noting that the administration has been aggressiving trying to work with your party on regulatory reform. They have submitted many requests to you for action. It is also worth noting the following concerning your record sir in the 12 years you've been in congress. This was reported in the Washington Post... “Over the Obama administration’s first three years, the net benefits of regulations reviewed by OIRA and issued by executive agencies exceeded $91 billion — 25 times the corresponding number in the [George W.] Bush administration and more than eight times the corresponding number in the Clinton administration.” “In the last 10 fiscal years, the highest costs were imposed in 2007. The last three years of the Bush administration saw higher regulatory costs than the first three years of the Obama administration. If you're looking for the year with the highest regulatory costs on record, you'll have to go all the way back to 1992, under President George H.W. Bush.”

Randy, two years ago on this blog you advocated for tax reform. At that time you said you would like this to be implemented by 2015. I was SHOCKED that you needed 5 years to write tax simplification. Now you are asking us again. Why don't you just report to us the progress you have made over the past 2 years on this issue you felt was important two years ago? The constituents could benefit from a progress report on this and what changes will affect us.