Former Libertarian Party presidential candidate and current candidate for Senator Austin Petersen has taken the Coalition to Reduce Spending‘s pledge to not vote for any budget that isn’t balanced or adds spending.

“I am committed to balancing the budget and even passing a Balanced Budget amendment. Our economy cannot survive will while we continue to rack up billions of dollars in debt and refuse to cut spending,” stated Petersen while also explaining “I believe that we need to cut spending everywhere. The military, entitlements, foreign aid, and corporate welfare.”

The Coalition to Reduce Spending is an organization dedicated to “research and advocat[ing] for reduced federal spending and balanced budgets,” and believes spending should never exceed the taxes the federal government receives.

There candidate pledge is as follows:

I, ____________________, pledge to the citizens of my state and to the American people that, except when related to a congressional authorization of force, I will:

ONE, consider all spending open for reduction and vote only for budgets that present a path to balance; and

TWO, vote against any appropriations bill that increases total spending and against the authorization or funding of new programs without offsetting cuts in other programs.

Petersen is encouraging his supporters to suggest what should be cut first should he be elected claiming “My campaign manager and I actually read these. It is important to me that I hear what others think or what ideas you may have I have not thought about.”

Suggestions can be made here.