Politics & Government

Fiscal Responsibility Focus as Lance Starts 2nd Term

Congressman believes new Republican majority will maintain a focus on reducing government spending.

Fiscal responsibility is once again his focus as Rep. Leonard Lance (R-7th) begins his second term in office.

“I think we have to be more fiscally responsible as a Congress,” he said in an interview with Patch on Friday. “I don’t think we can balance the budget, but we have to do a better job.”

“We need a path back toward a balanced budget, and that has to be the primary responsibility,” he added.

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Lance was in the United States House of Representatives in the November elections, when he ran against Democrat Ed Potosnak. The seventh district includes municipalities in Somerset, Union, Hunterdon and Middlesex counties.

Lance was sworn in for his second term Jan. 5.

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“I am very grateful to represent Somerset County, and 17 municipalities in it,” he said. “It is an honor to represent the county, which is comprised of highly educated people who have positions of responsibility in employment.”

In this past election, the government saw a great deal of change as the Republican party took the majority in the House of Representatives. Lance said he believes this change will lead to additional work to focus specifically on fiscal responsibility throughout the country.

One step was taken to that end Thursday when the House of Representatives voted to reduce congressional office budgets by 5 percent.

“I think the new Republican majority in the House is serious about this issue, and that will manifest in various bills throughout the beginning of the year,” Lance said. “I think we’re going to have to decrease spending.”

As for government spending as a whole, Lance declined to name any specific measures he is looking to take in the coming months, but said that he knows the government has a responsibility to ensure that spending is decreased to account for the nation’s debt.

“I believe the public is in the mood, and recognizes that the government has to tighten its belt,” he said. “The public recognizes we have a responsibility in this regard.”

Lance said his other objective for the coming year is to continue to lower the unemployment rate, which is currently at 9.4 percent.

“Our primary responsibility is to get the economy moving again,” he said. “I know the unemployment rate is 9.4 percent, we have to try and get it significantly below that.”

Part of that process, Lance said, is having the government reduce its own spending for the year.

“If the federal government shows responsibility in its own budget, that will help, and the economy will be better, I hope,” he added. “In turn, revenue comes in to the government, so it builds upon itself.”

“I think the best way the federal government can do that is to create a climate that is conducive for jobs,” he added. “It helps for state coffers, and for county and municipal governments.”

But to maintain jobs in Bridgewater, and other towns in the seventh district, officials are focusing both on small businesses and larger pharmaceutical and other companies that have taken up residence particularly on Route 22—and Lance said he is all for it.

Lance said part of improving the economy is allowing for these big businesses to thrive.

“I believe that our part of New Jersey is the medicine chest of the world, and we should support the American pharmaceutical industry,” he said. “That manifests itself in several ways, and I am an enormous supporter.”

“I think that will be the responsibility of committees in that jurisdiction,” he added.

The House's ways and means committee, Lance said, will possibly be charged with looking into these companies and assisting them. Although he said he is not on that committee—having served in the past on the budget committee, although those assignments have not yet been determined—that group will have to look into bringing profits back to the United States.

“The ways and means committee might look at ways of taking profits from abroad and bring them back to this country by multi-national methods that are not punitive,” he said. “We want to make sure profits can come back here, and be used to create jobs in the United States.”

As for working directly with the state government, Lance said he has a strong relationship with Gov. Chris Christie and his office, and he will continue to coordinate with the governor’s office to aid the district.

Lance said he will also be looking to work with the state government as New Jersey deals with possible upcoming snow storms, and municipalities work within their own means to pay for materials needed to deal with those emergencies.

“I will continue to work with the governor’s office whenever he requests a state of emergency,” he said. “I work cordially with the state in that way.”

And as for issues with individual municipalities, Lance said he relies on the local governments to take care of themselves.

“I rely on the expertise of those on the local governing bodies,” he said. “I really believe it is important to let those who are directly responsible for the municipalities make decisions.”

“I have great faith in Mayor Patricia Flannery and defer to what they are doing,” he added of his thoughts on the Bridgewater Township governing body.

Although he did not discuss specific plan for reducing spending and improving the economy, Lance said he is looking forward to his coming term and the chance to serve the district.

“It is a joy to represent this district,” he said, “and I look forward to continuing to do so.”


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