Ohio lawmakers wants national debt addressed

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(The Center Square) – Ohio Republicans want the federal government to get a handle on the national debt, saying taxpayers are overburdened and long-term national security is compromised.

State Reps. David Thomas, R-Jefferson, and Roy Klopfenstein, R-Haviland, introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives on Tuesday that urges Congress to address what they called a growing problem.

If passed, the resolution carries little weight toward action, but the two believe it sends a message to the federal government.

“Responsible spending doesn’t burden our children and grandchildren with insurmountable debt,” Klopfenstein said in a statement. "It is vital that we draw attention to this issue and urge immediate federal action because every delay deepens the debt and endangers the future for the next generation."

The resolution comes a month after congressional Republicans used August to promote President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act while the Congressional Budget Office estimated the bill would add another $4.1 trillion to the national debt by 2034.

The proposed resolution highlights that the current $37 trillion debt adds up to nearly $108,000 per Ohio resident, and more than $8 trillion is held by foreign investors.

The two lawmakers have other concerns.

They say the federal government spent more than $1 trillion more than it brought in for 2024, putting programs like Social Security and Medicare in jeopardy over the next decade.

Also, the resolution says the federal government is spending more on interest payments than the entire defense budget.

“At some point, it will become a state issue with impacts on our national security and ability to operate services and now is past the time to take steps to help,” Thomas said. “It is my hope that our congressional leaders in Ohio can use this resolution as an example for the need and backing to carry out reforms at the federal level to lower the debt.”