Brian Walter, as the founder of Unity above Self in America, is carrying the baton handed him personally through his friendship with former Senator Tom Coburn.

Brian first felt a call to try to do something to address our national debt and dysfunction in the fall of 2016. A meeting for a cup of God’s coffee with the late Tom Coburn led to a series of events that are still unfolding.

Brian became convinced that Senator Coburn was right: The problem of our out-of-control national spending and fiscal death spiral was a moral problem resulting from a broken system. Choosing better politicians is not going to fix the problem.

We must change the incentives in Congress and call on our leaders and the People themselves to understand our moral failing as Christians and as people of conscience.

Since its founding, Unity above Self in America has thrown its persuasive efforts in a media and personal campaign to back the pending legislation in Congress called the “No Budget No Pay” Act.

Oklahoma is now the only state in the nation where its entire Congressional delegation is backing the bill. Brian gives credit to the Lord for the progress made so far.

In 2009, Brian was awarded Kingfisher Citizen of the Year, for his leadership to address the chronic and severe flooding that has plagued Kingfisher since its beginning. In his acceptance speech for Citizen of the Year, Brian credited his wife and family but primarily credited God for having given him the clear direction to work on the issues in his hometown resulting from the 500-year flood event of 2007.

The 2016 coffee meeting with former Senator Tom Coburn came as a result of Brian’s interest in Coburn’s work with the Convention of the States. Brian’s reading of Coburn’s last published book addressing our nation’s debt, “Smashing the D.C. Monopoly,” would prove to be life-changing.

Brian grasped the profound assertions Coburn was making in his book. Brian said, “The book is a clear assessment of our nation’s grave condition and a clear directive of what must be done. It was written, I believe, out of his love for our country and in hopes that it would provide a roadmap for whoever was to follow him.”

Brian’s initial conviction was not to lead but to assist Coburn in whatever way he could. Brian initiated and attended interviews for news articles between Coburn and staff writers at both “The Oklahoman” and “The Tulsa World” in the fall of 2017.

Over lunch in April of 2018, Dr. Coburn told Brian his health was rapidly declining and challenged Brian to put his passion for our nation into action to carry on his work to reform the U.S. Congress.
It took a full year for Brian to “lean in” to the call he felt God was sending and determine a path forward.

That path led to pursuing the passage of the “No Budget, No Pay” Act to change the pay incentive for Congress from simply getting elected to do the hard work of coming together to establish priorities and set a budget-- incentives based on common sense.

Asked about the progress to date, Brian said, “God has made it clear to me that despite the enormity of the task, by ‘leaning in’ to His righteousness and the lessons the Bible, we the people can lean on Jesus and His teachings and can come together once again to reestablish our country around the principles of hard work and sacrifice for the common good of all our people.”

In 2021, Senator Mike Braun’s (R-IN) office asked that Unity above Self in America set its goal on the ratification of the “No Budget, No Pay” act as the 28th amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Brian and his wife of 36 years, Elizabeth reside in Kingfisher, Oklahoma where they raised their 3 boys. After his faith, Brian considers the strength of his marriage, the support of his family, and the passion and sacrifice of those that join the effort to be the key parts of sustaining his strength to pursue this cause with passion and tenacity.

Brian graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1985, with a degree in construction management.
Some of Brian’s early leadership roles include:
• President of Delta Chi Fraternity
• Chairman of TD Industries Employee Relations Board
• President of Kingfisher Rotary Club
• Chairman of Kingfisher Parks and Recreation
• Board member of Kingfisher Federated Church
• Co-Founder of Kingfisher Trails
• President of Walter Building Center, Inc.
• President of WBC Rental Center, LLC
• President of Walter Investments

Brian takes no salary or compensation from the effort and pledges to never accept any pay or compensation as it relates to the effort.