On Feb. 17 Congressman Jason Chaffetz cautioned the crowd about our government’s financial responsibility. “My biggest concern is the lack of fiscal discipline in Washington D.C.,” he said.
Chaffetz, representing Utah’s 3rd Congressional District, spoke to the over 100 people gathered in the Lakeview Room of the Library. He discussed his political history, his acting as campaign manager and chief of staff to Gov. John Huntsman, as well as his distinguished grassroots campaign organization. Chaffetz expressed his doubts about current leaders’ decisions.
“We can’t be all things to all people,” said Chaffetz. The congressman explained that the deficit that was inherited by the Obama administration is “four times larger now” than when it began, and repeatedly asserted that “we need to make some difficult cuts.”
However, he expressed his doubts about whether that would readily change.
“Why do you think the way someone campaigns is different from how they are going to be in office?” Chaffetz said. “One out of every four dollars that is spent in this country is spent by the federal government.”
Chaffetz continued to explain his concerns with the path that the federal government is taking in our current economic climate, addressing federal job overcompensation, the need for a business climate conducive to entrepreneurship and the desire for government to be less, not more involved in corporate affairs.
The congressman answered several specific questions from students, faculty and community members about his perspectives, so much so that the line had to be eventually cut short for lack of time.
