Fix The Debt

Ohio Veterans United Executive Director and Fix the Debt-Ohio Steering Committee Member Harry Prestanski joined a diverse group of concerned individuals from across the country to converge on Washington, DC, to call on lawmakers to address the rapidly approaching fiscal cliff and the country’s long-term federal debt problems.  The Ohio delegation joined representatives from eight states urging immediate and meaningful reforms to protect the U.S. economy.  

Highlights from the Buckeye State ...

Former Ohio Governor and Senator George Voinovich agreed to become a co-chair of our state steering committee. During his time in Washington, former Senator Voinovich was a steadfast advocate for fiscal discipline and provided testimony before the Senate Budget Committee in November 2009 on this very issue.

The Dayton Daily News covered the launch, particularly the key role being played by former Senator Voinovich. During the launch former Senator Voinovich was critical of both President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney for “not having a plan” to bring federal “debt on a downward path.”

The Columbus Dispatch also focused on former Senator Voinovich’s participation.  Voinovich noted that any solution “is going to take some courageous people. But we’re going to have to do some tough things for the benefit of our children and grandchildren.”

“The pressure is on Congress to address our growing debt if we want to avoid the fiscal cliff. Congress has to address this now – there is no time to wait,” said Harry Prestanski.  “It is time for our elected leaders to stop posturing for the cameras, stop the campaign rhetoric and trying to legislate by the microphone. The election is over. The campaigning needs to stop. The President, Senate and House leaders need to sit down at the table and fix the debt."

Today, the national debt exceeds $16 trillion and continues to grow. On January 1, the country faces a hazardous combination of spending cuts and tax expirations – known as the “fiscal cliff” – that the Congressional Budget Office predicts would cause the economy to shrink in 2013.  According to figures released by the American Action Forum, Ohio could lose 378,354 jobs if the fiscal cliff is not averted.

Organized by the Campaign to Fix the Debt, Prestanski joined business leaders, former elected officials, policy experts, and other concerned citizens from eight states for the fly-in event to ask lawmakers to work together on solutions to the U.S. debt problems.