Fix The Debt

Some critics have implied that the Campaign to Fix the Debt is duplicitous because, they claim, some supporters of the effort have pursued agendas inconsistent with our publicly-stated goals. Such claims represent a misunderstanding of what we as a campaign are trying to accomplish.

The fact is we all have our own preferences for how we would like to see deficit reduction play out. The more than 340,000 Fix the Debt supporters recognize that in order to achieve a solution that can garner broad support and put the country on a sustainable course, we will have to compromise. As our Citizen’s Petition to Fix the Debt states:

A solution will require some sacrifice from all Americans; no special interest is exempt. We are willing to do our part and accept tough choices that affect us personally as part of a comprehensive plan in which everyone contributes their fair share.

While some argue that a number of our supporters benefited from certain provisions of the fiscal cliff deal, they miss the fact that Fix the Debt did not support the agreement. Indeed, because of its lack of long-term deficit reduction, we were critical of the deal.

In order to give policymakers the needed space to come up with an agreement, we have not made specific policy demands. However, we have said that bipartisan plans like the Simpson-Bowles proposal can serve as a framework. Simpson-Bowles called for eliminating most tax loopholes and for significant cuts in defense spending. Further, our Campaign Principles make it clear that “reforms to all areas of the budget should be included” in a comprehensive plan to address the long-term debt.

In summation, we will continue to emphasize that those affiliated with the Campaign would be more than willing to trade in specific tax provisions from which they benefit for a comprehensive deal that would bend down the unsustainable trajectory of our national debt. We hope that our leaders in Washington come to the same conclusion.