We are pleased to note Sen. Frank E. Moss’ strong commitment to fiscal responsibility in the winter edition of his “Senate Update” newsheet being circulated in Utah. Fiscal responsibility is a commodity much to be desired in Washington at every level – Congress, the President, budget committees, bureaucrats, salary setters, military leaders. All must join in a concerted effort if the United States government is to control spending and shake the “irresponsibility” tag. As the Herald noted in this column a few days ago, only in two of the past 17 years has the govemment taken in more money than it has spent – despite almost continual fiscal advice that over-spending feeds inflation. Neither political party has had a monopoly on deficit spending. in both Democratic and Republican administrations the national debt has soared at a sickening rate. But Senator Moss’ party especially has a reputation for big spending and some of the veto fights in recent months have spotlighted this claim. What Senator Moss said in his statement on fiscal responsibility makes sense. A few quotes: “Few issues are of greater concern to Utahns today than putting a lid on govemment spending As a member of the Senate Budget Committee, I am committed to achieving a balanced budget We must examine every spending proposal very closely. Congress must focus its efforts beyond the year at hand and establish budget priorities further into the future We must review the so-called ‘uncontrollable’ federal programs that make up over 70 per cent of the budget and change or discontinue expenditures for those no longer in accord with current priorities and national needs.” Senator Moss cited as a big step forward the budget act passed last year which established Senate and House budget committees to consider over-all govemment spending and to set ceilings and priorities. The new budget process will not correct in one year all the problems that have accumulated over many years, the senator said. “It will not produce a balanced budget ovemight. But it is a beginning.” Senator Moss noted that the new budget process appears to be working, with support of Democrats and Republicans alike – “even cynical newsmen,” in his words. He ended his commitment by saying: “Cutting down on govemment spending will not be easy. But it must be done.” We are confident the people of Utah will agree with Senator Moss’ comments and will be carefully observing future fiscal performance of members of Congress and others of the Washington corps.