U.S. Rep. Justin Amash and U.S. Sen. Carl Levin visited Grand Valley to talk with students about jobs and the economy. Amash spoke to about 50 students on September 26 in the Kirkhof Center and Levin addressed about 80 students on September 27 in Lake Huron Hall.
Both politicians spoke about Social Security and the economy before fielding questions about gas prices, jobs, alternative energy and conflict in the Middle East. Amash, a freshman Republican, told students his No. 1 priority is a balanced budget amendment to the constitution that would base federal spending on an average of the last three years of revenue.
“I have been talking with Republicans and Democrats and I’m confident we’re going to get more Democrats on board with this proposal,” said Amash. He also told students the federal debt impacts their generation more than any other.
Levin told students reducing government debt is nothing new and that the best approach includes a mixture of reduced spending and additional revenue. “We have a history of deficit reduction; we’ve done it a number of times including during the Reagan and Clinton years,” said Levin. “It was about half and half — half additional revenues, half spending cuts.”
Levin also said Social Security has become a philosophical issue.
“People used to believe in Social Security and that it should be
protected. Current workers and seniors were willing to sacrifice to
protect it,” he said. “Now, many people don’t believe in it and want
to privatize it or depend on the markets which go up and down. If we
keep it solid and protect it, it will be there for you.”
