U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) on Wednesday issued a grave assessment regarding the ever-increasing national debt, which is inching closer to $30 trillion with each passing day.

The failure of the federal government to address the rapidly growing financial burden of public debt has drawn immense criticism from fiscal conservatives in both chambers of Congress.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) called the lower chamber into a single-day session to consider extending the nation’s debt limit, which resulted in Democrats successfully passing a short-term measure to increase the amount of debt the federal government can incur into early December.

Progressives cite the need for the nation to meet its outstanding debt obligations as a reason to increase the federal government’s borrowing capacity. In contrast, conservatives see the situation as an opportunity to enact reforms that will slow the mass accumulation of public debt.

Palmer, taking exception to Democrats’ ambitious spending agenda, cited the party’s efforts to pass an infrastructure bill and reconciliation package which totals over $5.2 trillion in federal spending.

“Democrats just raised the debt limit while also trying to pass the most expensive piece of legislation in the history of the United States,” Palmer said. “We are already at a point where U.S. debt is at 125 percent of our GDP (Gross Domestic Product). This means that our debt is now 25 percent larger than the entire U.S. economy.”

He added, “The debate over raising the debt limit should have been a pause point to allow Democrats and Republicans to work together to deal with our unsustainable debt. The reckless disregard for our debt crisis has become a national security threat, and it is undermining the security and well-being of the current and future generations.”

The House GOP Policy Committee chairman believes should Democrats emerge successful in passing a multi-trillion-dollar spending initiative, the move would prove to be detrimental to the nation’s future.

“Instead of increasing the debt limit while trying to spend over $5 trillion more, Congress should be working to craft legislation focused on growing our economy, ensuring our energy security, creating jobs, and finding every reasonable way to reduce our debt, which has become a major threat to the future of all Americans,” concluded Palmer.

Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL

GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. — First-term state representative Wes Long recently announced that he will not seek re-election to his House District 27 seat. Today, Republican Will Ainsworth threw his hat in the ring to become Long’s successor.

Ainsworth operates a well known hunting and fishing lodge in Guntersville called Dream Ranch.

If elected, he says economic development and job creation would he his immediate focus.

“As a legislator, I will pledge to work with Gov. Robert Bentley and his team to recruit much needed jobs and industry to the Marshall County area,” Ainsworth said. “It’s no secret that our area is still suffering the effects of the economic downturn, and I believe that I have the energy, vision, and drive necessary to help bring some long overdue relief.”

Ainsworth also noted his desire to help protect the fundamental rights of Alabamians from continuing attacks by Democrats on the federal level.

“Since Obama has taken office, our gun rights, our religious freedoms, and even the fundamental right to life have been under constant assault,” he said. “I understand that the state legislature is the last line of defense against these attacks and can create roadblocks that prevent ObamaCare and other liberal policies from taking root here.”

Prior to founding Dream Ranch, Ainsworth was the full-time youth director at Albertville’s Grace Fellowship Church. In addition to the ranch, he also operates a commercial cattle farm.

Ainsworth is a co-founder of the Tennessee Valley Hunting and Fishing Expo, which he says has grown into one of the largest trade shows of its kind in the southeast, with more than 30,000 attendees annually.

Follow Adam on Twitter @AdamYHN

In an interview with Huntsville CBS affiliate WHNT on Tuesday, Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Huntsville, said he believes there’s a chance congressional Democrats will back down from their intransigent stance on upholding the president’s controversial healthcare law.

Brooks also conceded the current government shutdown isn’t good for the economy.

“A government shutdown has an adverse effect on our economy,” Brooks said. “Although… through the 1970s and 1990s we’ve had 17 government shutdowns. And as you know, we had a thriving economy in the 80s and in the 90s.”

Brooks cited his desire to stop out-of-control government spending as the primary reason he’s been willing to take the current fight to the shutdown level.

“I am quite willing to do whatever I can with respect to continuing resolutions, appropriation bills, debt ceiling votes, to try to get those in Washington who are financially irresponsible to start doing the right thing,” he said.

But as for the primary stated goal of rolling back ObamaCare, Brooks said he wasn’t giving up on the possibility of Democratic lawmakers giving in — at least to some degree.

“Under the right circumstances it’s possible,” Brooks said. “We’d have to see how those circumstances unfold. Today, [it’s] unlikely. Tomorrow, maybe.”

Follow Jeff on Twitter @Jeff_Poor