The federal government should start by returning spending to pre-COVID levels and then cap spending at those levels for several years.
Return federal spending to pre-COVID levels and cap spending at those levels for several years to reduce inflation.
Occurrences
We should immediately go back to pre-COVID spending levels at the federal level. You talk about cutting the deficit down and what that would do to help us get control of our fiscal house. Just going back and saying, "Look, we're going to go back to 2019 spending levels."
Crank said he would work to reduce government spending and lower inflation. On his campaign website, Crank said, "With government overspending causing inflation and driving up the costs of everyday goods and housing prices at unsustainable levels, the American middle class is being crushed on a daily basis. We must return to sane economic policies so American families, entrepreneurs and small businesses can prosper once again."
Evidence
unverified · Source version 35276 · locator unknown
Crank answered that Congress should address inflation by stopping overspending: the federal government should return spending to pre-COVID levels and cap spending at those levels for several years.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
OMB's Historical Tables page provides Table 1.1, 'Summary of Receipts, Outlays, and Surpluses or Deficits (-): 1789-2025.'
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
The law appropriated FY2025 funding at FY2024 levels for covered projects and activities and made those funds available through September 30, 2025, with specified exceptions and adjustments.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
Roll Call 70 shows H.R. 1968 passed 217-213; Representative Crank, Republican of Colorado, voted Yea.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
Section 1109 continued entitlements and other mandatory payments at amounts necessary to maintain program levels under current law, and the act also included advance FY2026 payments for Medicaid, SSI, and other programs.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
OMB's Historical Tables page includes outlay tables through 2031, including Table 3.1, 'Outlays by Superfunction and Function: 1940-2031,' and related budget-enforcement outlay tables.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
CBO estimated that the federal budget deficit totaled $1.8 trillion in the first 10 months of FY2026; revenues rose by $139 billion and outlays increased by $308 billion, or 5 percent. Table 1 reported preliminary FY2026 outlays of $6.283 trillion for October-July, and CBO estimated the FY2026 deficit would be $2.1 trillion based on information through July.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
The House Clerk recorded Roll Call 272 on July 21, 2026, for H.R. 9770, 'Making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2027, and for other purposes.' The vote question was on passage, the bill passed 220-205, and Representative Crank of Colorado voted Yea.
Assessments
Crank promised to return federal spending to pre-COVID levels and cap it there for several years. During his first House term, total federal outlays remained far above FY2019 pre-COVID levels, including about $7.010 trillion in FY2025 versus about $4.447 trillion in FY2019, and CBO reported FY2026 outlays still rising. The FY2025 continuing resolution and FY2027 continuing-appropriations vote show spending-related effort by Crank, but they did not return total federal spending to pre-COVID levels or impose a multi-year cap at those levels.
The promised outcome was to reduce total federal spending back to pre-COVID levels and hold it there for several years. Evidence shows FY2025 federal outlays remained far above FY2019 pre-COVID levels, and the enacted FY2025 continuing appropriations law only held many discretionary accounts near FY2024 levels for one year while mandatory spending continued under current law. Crank did vote for H.R. 1968, a concrete spending-restraint vehicle, so there was legislative effort, but it did not deliver the specific pre-COVID spending level or multi-year cap promised.