JEFFERSON CITY—Last week, State Senator Ryan Silvey, R- Kansas City, testified before the U.S. House Budget Committee on the importance of a balanced federal budget and the impact our nation’s budget has on Missouri. Silvey was the only elected official on the panel and invited as a guest of U.S. House Budget Committee Chairman Tom Price and Missouri Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, who serves on the committee.

“Appropriations is the one thing that makes our branch different from the other branches,” said Silvey. “The decisions that you make in appropriations are not always easy, but you have to decide what the priorities of the government are going to be.”

During his testimony Silvey also spoke on the concerns of federal spending. “In state capitols across the country, it is often said that Washington DC has a spending problem,” said Silvey. “By failing to require balanced budgets, the federal government has enabled itself to accumulate perpetual deficits and these deficits now endanger more than our fiscal stability.”

He also highlighted the safeguards and unique procedures in place in Missouri that require Missouri to maintain balanced budgets, but also the importance of the Hancock Amendment which requires legislators to make difficult decisions instead of pass tax increases directly on to citizens.

“The people expect us to act fiscally responsible,” said Silvey. “(I believe) The public itself is hungry for people to make the tough decisions and keep our fiscal house in order.”

Before coming to the State Senate, Sen. Silvey served as chairman of the Missouri House Budget Committee, making him the youngest budget chairman in the nation at the time. Currently, he serves as vice-chair of Senate Appropriations, an executive committee member for the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and the co-chair of the NCSL Budgets and Revenue Committee. 

You can view Sen. Silvey’s full presentation to the U.S. House Budget Committee by clicking here.