Sen. Johnson suggests US Constitution has faltered in limiting size of government

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) on Wednesday suggested that the Constitution has been unable to prevent the rapid growth of government in recent years. 

“[T]he Constitution has not worked so well … limiting the size of government and that’s where it hasn’t worked,” said Johnson, speaking at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

Johnson went on to detail the growth of government from the early 20th century until today. 

“In the early 20th century, in 1913, the federal government was 2 percent of our economy," he said, as reported by Wisconsin news site TheNorthWestern.com. "[T]hat was the vision of our Founding Fathers: a limited federal government.

"What’s happened in the last 100 years?" Johnson asked. “Government’s grown.”

Johnson, a Senate freshman, has created a visible profile in the upper chamber attaching himself to controversial plans to slash government spending and threatening filibusters to torpedo the majority party's plans.

Johnson said in his speech on Wednesday that he doesn't enjoy delivering a message of fiscal doom and gloom, but that it's vital for the future of the nation.

“I don’t enjoy this, by the way. I’m trying to inform,” he said. “Look at these numbers. It is your future being mortgaged right now. I’m an old dude; do you think I’ll have to pay this off?”

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