Roskam video explains GOP debt ceiling approach

Less than a week after a federal shutdown was averted, Wheaton Congressman Peter Roskam Wednesday released the first of two videos outlining the GOP's approach to the next battle - the country's debt ceiling.

Shot from his Washington, D.C., office with pictures of his four children in the background, Roskam, GOP chief deputy whip, notes that back in his hometown of Wheaton, "families balance checkbooks and learn to live within their means."

But in the nation's capital, Roskam says, "we're heading into a serious debt crisis. If we don't act, crucial programs won't exist for future generations."

Contrasting the GOP's budget plan, entitled a "Path to Prosperity" with the White House plan, Roskam tells viewers that two choices are before them.

By drastically reducing spending, the Republican plan would spur private sector job growth, cut taxes for top earners and reduce deficits by $4.4 trillion over the next decade by making cuts to government run programs Medicare and Medicaid, among other things.

President Barack Obama's plan, unveiled in February, takes a more incremental, modest approach to reduce the deficit by $1 trillion over the next decade and making investments in education, transportation and research.

"For the sake of my four children and your children, we can't afford to mortgage America's future to China," Roskam says.

The video, entitled "A Tidal Wave of Debt," is the first of two parts - and part of Roskam's overall push to educate residents of his DuPage County district about what drives up the national debt and potential solutions, said Dan Conston, Roskam's communications director. A second video will be released this week.

Roskam effort also includes an upcoming teletownhall, public policy talks, and more videos. videos about government spending and debt and possible solutions, Conston said.

The video came the same day as a deficit speech by Obama, who pledged to make deep cuts and increase taxes if the deficit wasn't reined in by 2014. Obama also cut at the GOP proposal without mentioning it by name.

"That's not right," he said of the GOP plan's components, "and it's not going to happen as long as I'm president."