Which Modern Republican Politicians are Fiscal Conservatives?

 (My Answer on Quora)

There are very few fiscal conservatives in either contemporary party. Period. In fact the only sitting politician I can think of off hand who falls under this heading is Rand Paul. The issue here is that both parties have a tendency to favour deficit spending - to fund their various projects and policy initiatives - which is why the national debt has grown considerably. Accountability is low and it isn’t difficult to spend other people’s money.

Yes there was a budget surplus under Bill Clinton for a few years but he was largely pushed into it by the Gingrich GOP, who controlled the House for much of the Clinton Presidency. This was the closest that we have seen a sitting branch of Congress come toward Fiscal Conservatism. It didn’t last long.

The problem is that Fiscal Conservatism - essentially don’t spend more than you have - is a difficult platform to campaign under as you all too often come out looking like Uncle Scrooge. In an election year this is a tough sell. People talk about Fiscal Conservatism and give lip service to the idea but in the overall scheme it is often short shifted.