The iconic American poet, Robert Frost, wrote that “two roads diverged in wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”  The House and Senate recently put forward two very different budget paths for our country to follow.  One meets the challenges we face head-on by making responsible choices.  The other puts off tough decisions and continues business as usual. 

The House budget plan will put us on a path to prosperity. The plan would balance the budget in ten years while modestly increasing spending by 3.5 percent a year over the next decade.  The sensible spending controls and much-needed reforms would still allow for significant investments on important priorities. Importantly, the House plan would lower taxes so people can keep more of their hard-earned money and repeal the President’s health care law so employers won’t be taxed out-of-business.  The plan also calls for modest reforms to Medicare to protect the programs for current recipients and save it for our kids. 

The Senate budget plan will put us the wrong road.  Their plan – the first one they’ve put forward in more than four years – raises taxes by a trillion dollars, not to balance the budget, but to allow the government to continue its unrestrained spending.  It calls for more spending, more borrowing, and more debt, which will relegate our children and grandchildren to a future less prosperous than ours. The Senate plan never balances and spends $5 trillion more than the House plan over the next ten years.

Which path should we choose? 

The Senate plan changes very little. It keeps us on a path where the economy just isn’t working for too many Americans. It’s a path where good jobs are hard to find, where gas and groceries cost too much, where taxes are too high, and where paychecks aren’t going as far as they used to. It’s a path that ignores the fact that Medicare and Social Security are going broke just as retiring Baby Boomers need those programs the most. 

The House plan takes a path less frequented by politicians. It’s a path where we don’t promise everything to everyone. It’s a path that controls spending sensibly so we can spend the limited resources we have on the programs we need. It’s a path toward lower taxes, where people get to keep more of their hard-earned money, and where the government lives within its means, so future generations can escape crushing debt.

People are really hurting in this economy and need help now. The House budget calls for making decisions that will lead to a healthier economy today and a much brighter future for every American. The Senate budget calls for more of the same. Which road we choose will make all the difference.

Luke Messer is the Congressman for Indiana’s 6th Congressional District and serves on the U.S. House Budget Committee.

Today's children are Indiana's future leaders, parents, and workers. Our state's future prosperity depends on their healthy development and growth. With the support of engaged communities and nurturing families, all of Indian's children can thrive and have the opportunity to grow into caring, contributing and healthy adults. Throughout the month of April SIEOC Child Care Resource & Referral would like to remind Hoosiers that helping our communities and families create healthy, nurturing environments for children is one of the best investments Indiana can make.

Scientists who study the brain tell us that providing all of our children—from infants to adolescents—with nurturing relationships in safe, stable environments builds healthy brain architecture and lays a foundation for future success and well-being. Nevertheless, too many Hoosier children are living in environments that undermine healthy brain development. Children who are abused or neglected, living in homes with domestic violence or substance abuse or living in chronic poverty, experience unhealthy levels of stress that are toxic to the brain and impair its growth. These children are more likely to experience life-long problems in learning, behavior, and both physical and mental health.

Preventing child abuse and neglect will take effort from every one of us—from policy-makers to parents--to ensure our children have the foundation to become tomorrow's leaders.

SIEOC Child Care Resource & Referral along with local Prevent Child Abuse Councils act as educators working to heighten public awareness of the need for caring communities to promote healthy child development and what Hoosiers can do for our next generation; coalition-builders organizing concerned citizens and groups to join forces and leverage resources to prevent child maltreatment; catalysts advocating for important programs and policies that help communities support parents and help parents raise healthy children; and trainers providing professionals and volunteers with the essential skills and knowledge to help parents and communities prevent child abuse and neglect.

SIEOC is proud to host the 17th annual Prevent Child Abuse Conference April 27 in Dearborn Co. This year's theme is The Power of One, The Strength of Many. The Keynote speaker will be Brad Tassell, “Don't Feed the Bully”. Other session topics include Responding to Children After Disclosure, Bridges Out of Poverty, Recognize, React, Report, and Bullying and the Child with Special Needs. For more information contact Amy Matzet or Susan Wilker at 812-926-1585.

One person-YOU-can make a difference in the life of a child or a family and together we can make our communities safe places for children to learn and grow!

Partial funding for this program was provided by Citizens for a Drug Free Ohio County. The purpose of this organization is to address community awareness and involvement in reducing substance abuse and dependence. We fund prevention, treatment, and law enforcement efforts and advocate for social change. All citizens are welcome to attend our monthly meeting held on the second Monday of every month at 11:30 a.m. at the Education Center of Rising Sun . For more information regarding the Citizens for a Drug Free Ohio County contact Debbie Thomason at 812-812-438-2437, or email her at dthomason@occfrisingsun.com. Website ohiocountydrugfree.com