The people back home work hard, pay local, state and federal taxes, meet their rent and mortgage bill, put food on the table and clothes on their children and still find a way to balance their checkbook by prioritizing expenses. This is an idea which is totally alien to the Washington mentality. If our citizens approached budget issues like the federal government, they would all be bankrupt. The elected officials discussed with me a number of federal issues that affect local governments - everything from transportation construction to social issues. I heard about balancing the federal budget and welfare reform in Denver.
Some issues are comprehensive in nature and others are geo-politically specific.