Meet the Lawmaker Picked to Produce a Conservative Alternative to Obama’s Budget

Conservatives are gearing up to draft their alternative to President Obama’s budget, and Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., is the lawmaker behind the push.

Republican Study Committee Chairman Bill Flores, R-Texas, tapped Stutzman to lead the group’s Budget and Spending Task Force, which will release a conservative alternative to the president’s budget toward the end of March.

“The RSC budget that we’re going to work on will set a strong conservative tone not only for the House, but [for] Washington,” Stutzman told The Daily Signal. “We’re going to show we have major problems that need to be fixed, and we’re going to do it.”

Stutzman lamented the president’s history of spending and $18 trillion national debt. In his new role, Stutzman said he plans to rein in government spending and tackle entitlement reform, in addition to presenting a balanced budget.

“We have to come back and look at where we’re at and make sure we have a strong national defense and make sure we get our fiscal house in order,” he said.

At the GOP’s joint retreat in Hershey, Pa., last month, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said entitlement reform is an issue that should be approached with bipartisan support. Democrats haven’t signaled they’re willing to work with the GOP to increase the solvency of programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

Stutzman, though, isn’t shying away from reforming safety-net programs.

Family Farmer Goes to Congress

Stutzman lives with his wife and two children in Howe, Ind. In addition to serving in Congress, he’s the co-owner of Stutzman Farms, which grows soybeans, green beans and seed corn.

Before becoming a member of the U.S. House, Stutzman served in the state Legislature for nearly 10 years. He ran for the U.S. Senate in 2010, finishing second in the Republican primary to Dan Coats, who currently holds the seat.

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Following his loss that year, Stutzman won a bid to run for the U.S. House in a special election to fill Rep. Mark Souder’s seat following his resignation. Stutzman was victorious in both the 2010 special election and general election, which were held the same day.

After taking office, Stutzman became a member of the House GOP’s whip team, but was later removed from it after he opposed the farm bill. The fourth-generation farmer called for the legislation to be split in two, with one bill addressing agriculture and the other the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or food stamps.

Last year, Stutzman ran for House majority whip when the position became vacant following former Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s surprising loss in the Republican primary for Virginia’s 7th congressional district. He lost to former RSC Chairman Steve Scalise, R-La.

Legislative Priorities

As head of the Budget and Spending Task Force, Stutzman’s top priorities include repealing Obamacare and presenting a strong defense budget among growing threats of terrorism and ISIS. In addition, Stutzman said he recognizes the increases in non-defense spending are contributing to the size of government.

Conservatives remain intent on repealing Obamacare, even with Obama in the White House for the next two years. Stutzman told The Daily Signal budget reconciliation is a tactic the GOP-controlled Congress should use to roll back the health care law.

Lawmakers are continuing to explore using the budget reconciliation process as a way to dismantle the law, which would lower the threshold of votes needed to advance legislation in the Senate to 51.

Last month, Rep. John Fleming, R-La., circulated a letter to his colleagues that calls on House leadership to begin that process by using budget reconciliation to repeal Obamacare. GOP leaders in the House and Senate have not yet committed to using the procedural tool.

“The president has just been unwilling to recognize that Obamacare is hurting the country,” he said. “He made changes to the law himself, but refuses to work with Congress. If he’s not willing to come to Congress, we have to do it ourselves.”

Stutzman indicated the budget prepared by the RSC may not pass the House this year. However, he said the fiscal blueprint gives lawmakers the chance to vote for a conservative budget and “sets the tone” for the coming years.

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In addition to his spearheading the RSC’s budget, Stutzman is working to reinforce Americans’ Second Amendment rights. The Indiana congressman re-introduced legislation last week allowing citizens who have a concealed carry permit in their home state to carry in others.

“Americans enjoy a natural right to self-defense preserved by the Second Amendment. This federally guaranteed liberty should not be forfeited when state lines are crossed,” he said in a statement. “Unfortunately, this fundamental right has been under attack from the anti-gun lobby on both the federal and state levels. This bill preserves the right to keep and bear arms for law abiding citizens while respecting the roles and responsibilities of state legislatures.”