Editorial "Fiscal Storms Ahead" - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Editorial "Fiscal Storms Ahead"

Posted: Updated:
By Collin R. Gaston - bio | email

  • Editorials

  • Thursday, May 16 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-16 23:20:04 GMT
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;

  • Tuesday, May 14 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-14 23:20:07 GMT
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 

  • Thursday, May 9 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-09 23:20:06 GMT
    What was the old Pan-Am gas station at the corner of Bibb and Coosa is now no longer.  Last weekend that landmark was demolished with nothing remaining where it once stood other than the outline of a foundation. What
    What was the old Pan-Am gas station at the corner of Bibb and Coosa is now no longer.  Last weekend that landmark was demolished with nothing remaining where it once stood other than the outline of a foundation. What
    •   
MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -

Tuesday evening our President addressed the nation and informed us that a deal had indeed been cut.  Following this address, there will certainly be some that think the fiscal storm for our country has passed. On the contrary, this was just the first line of storms that Congressional leaders must navigate in the coming months; two months to be exact, with the next storm on the horizon being the nation's debt limit and our country's ability to cover its obligations.

According to the Washington Post, "If Congress does not increase the debt ceiling, the government will quickly run out of ways to pay the nation's bills and make interest payments on the nation's outstanding debt. Any failure by the government to meet its financial obligations could be seen as a default, shaking world financial markets, given the special role that U.S. government bonds play in the global economy." Furthermore, a default according to most experts would thrust the U.S. economy back into a recession and another possible downgrade to our nation's credit ratings.  

So in two short months we will all again stand precariously close to edge of that proverbial fiscal cliff because our leaders in Washington have kicked the deficit and spending can down the road. It's time we get our fiscal house in order once and for all so this country can start a legitimate recovery. The first step to getting our fiscal house in order is to have leaders with the courage to make the tough decisions. I hope they can stop worrying about reelection long enough to find some.  Don't hold your breath.

Copyright 2013 WSFA 12 News.  All rights reserved.