Like the Phoenix, deficit hawks on Capitol Hill have risen from the ashes as part of a revised crusade to fight the largest fire-breathing budgetary dragon our nation has ever seen.

Senator George Voinovich (R-OH), and a few like-minded colleagues are leading the effort to get everyone else in Washington, DC to admit that deficits do matter and start dealing with the nation's finances.

Congress is literally burning the budgetary candle at both ends. Despite tens of billions of dollars needed to pay for the rising costs of wars on terrorism and Iraq and pay for big new tax cuts, lawmakers just can't shake their bipartisan addiction to spending.

As the Senate's leading deficit hawk, Sen. Voinovich's first opportunity to stand up for fiscal responsibility was to reduce the size of the President's tax cut. The Senator's principle was straightforward: Without major cuts in federal spending, our nation could not afford to kiss $726 billion goodbye.

On NBC's Meet the Press, Voinovich summed it up in a simple request, “Congress, let's pay for it. Let's offset it. Let's not just borrow that money, and put the jacket on the backs of my children and grandchildren and your children and grandchildren.”

In no time at all, political hacks lined up to slam the Senator. The insults varied from comparing him to the French, to a Democratic lackey and even calling him a traitor. Many of the critics are disciples of the trickle-down economic theory that tax cuts are the solution to everything. They claim that the tax cut will turn around the ailing economy, but neglect to mention that only 5.5% of the current proposal would take effect this year.

The good news is that the blitzkrieg of criticism hasn't stopped Sen. Voinovich from sticking to his guns. The slings and arrows are bouncing off of him like he is Superman and he is now more committed than ever to not let Congress break the bank.

According to recent polls, the deficit hawks in the Senate represent the views of most Americans. Although half the public believes that they are overtaxed, more than 60% believe that now is absolutely the wrong time to pass a tax cut. With about a $400 billion deficit this year and more than $1.8 trillion over the next decade, most Americans understand all too well the significant dangers of buying on credit and expecting future generations to pay for a mountain of debt.

Most American families wouldn't buy a Beemer right after quitting their job. Congress shouldn't either – if we're going to cut taxes we've got to cut spending too.

Unfortunately, Congress has started to look a little too much like a game of follow the leader. Once their leadership gives marching orders, Republicans and Democrats alike now act like good soldiers and do exactly what they are told. Fortunately, there are a few glowing examples of folks that don't march in lockstep. Sens. Voinovich (R-OH), McCain (R-AZ), Chaffee (R-RI), and Snowe (R-ME) ought to be applauded for standing up against enormous political pressure and opposing fiscally irresponsible tax cuts and new spending programs.