Macon Reporter

In an effort to shed light on the financial challenges faced by the federal and state governments, Dr. Lisa Smith, a candidate for State House District 96, shared a simplified budget analogy, breaking down the complexities of government finances into terms akin to a household budget. Smith presented a straightforward breakdown of the U.S. federal and state budget, emphasizing key figures to provide a relatable comparison.

"This is what we are dealing with in our federal and STATE government," Smith said on Facebook. 

She further illustrated her point by linking to an easy-to-understand budget for the federal government broken down into terms of what it would look like as a household budget. In Smith's analogy, U.S. tax revenue was likened to an annual family income of $2.17 trillion, while the federal budget was compared to a family spending of $3.82 trillion. The new debt incurred was framed as a credit card charge of $1.65 trillion, resulting in an overwhelming national debt of $14.27 trillion.

Smith also proposed simplifying these figures by removing eight zeros from the budget and converting it into a hypothetical household budget. This adjusted analogy depicted an annual family income of $21,700, expenses of $38,200, new credit card debt amounting to $16,500, and an outstanding credit card balance of $142,710. Smith drew attention to recent budget cuts totaling $38.5 billion which translated to just $38.50 in the household budget analogy.

The message aimed to illustrate the vastness of the financial challenges faced by the government and the limited impact of recent budgetary adjustments. Continuing with her financial comparisons, Dr. Smith delved into the issue of the debt ceiling in Lesson #2. She presented a vivid scenario where a homeowner returns to find a sewer backup, causing sewage to reach the ceilings. The question, according to Smith, was whether to "raise the ceilings" or "remove the s***.”

Smith is not only a pediatric nurse practitioner with a doctorate from the University of Illinois at Chicago but also a candidate running for office with a focus on defending constitutional rights and instigating positive change. Her campaign underscores her commitment to family values, which is highlighted by her 35-year marriage to a pastor, her role as a mother to ten children – seven of whom are adopted – and her family's dedication to public service with three sons having served or currently serving in the military, according to her campaign website.

House District 96, where Smith is running for state representative, includes all or parts of Springfield, Decatur, Taylorville, Blue Mound, Mount Auburn, Niantic, Edinburg and Rochester. The seat is currently held by State Rep. Sue Scherer (D-Decatur). Scherer has been in the position for a decade and is seeking another term to represent the district, according to Ballotpedia.