‘It’s Crucial That Republicans Listen’: Rep. Dave Brat Warns of the ‘Imminent Fiscal Crisis’ Facing the U.S.

Republican Rep. Dave Brat made national headlines when he challenged and beat House Republican Leader Eric Cantor in the 2014 Virginia primary. Now he's blasting Congress — especially his own party leadership — for their “reckless” fiscal policy in a Washington Post op-ed Thursday.

“Conservatives are supposed to stand for fiscal discipline, balanced budgets and reducing government waste,” Brat wrote. “Yet House leadership is currently whipping votes for a bad budget deal that was negotiated behind closed doors by party leaders that blows through the budget caps.”

Brat, a member of the Budget Committee and the House Freedom Caucus, told TheBlaze in an interview Friday that the “reckless” spending by Washington is leading to an “imminent fiscal crisis,” because at current levels, the United States will have more than $100 trillion in unfunded liabilities in about 10 years — debt "the next generation" will have to pay.

Virginia Republican Rep. Dave Brat (Jay Paul/Getty Images)

Brat expressed frustration with self-declared fiscal conservatives who aren’t willing to address the issue.

“Six years ago, the American people gave the Republicans the House because they said they wanted these changes," Brat said. "The Republicans said, ‘Well, we need the Senate,’ so they gave them the Senate. And they’ve gotten nothing done.”

Brat wrote that “the deficit will surpass $1 trillion by 2022 and every year thereafter.”

“That’s trillion with a ‘T,’” Brat told TheBlaze. “A lot of zeros.”

Brat also disputed Democrats’ claim that Republicans are simply seeking cuts to important programs.

“We’re not trying to cut everything, we’re trying to reform them so the kids have them,” he said.

Brat said that while most American voters sought “outsider” candidates in the presidential primaries, the incumbents responsible for “business as usual” in Congress “pretty much get re-elected.”

He said that “everybody runs on a balanced budget and says they’re for it,” but the American people should tell their representatives that they want a balanced budget — and to check their records on the issue.

Brat said there are a “host of issues” fueling the American people’s frustration with Washington from stagnant wages to border security, and “it’s crucial that Republicans listen.”

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