Source:  Press Release, 4/14/11

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Rep. Brad Miller’s statement on federal budget agreement

After careful consideration, I voted “no” today on the Continuing Resolution for FY 2011, H.R. 1473.

I could not support this bill because it represents the wrong values and priorities. Major cuts to Community Health Centers that provide essential, low-cost health care to the sickest and neediest among us, and a half-billion dollars in cuts for food for pregnant women and infants are not compatible with the values of most Americans. Major cuts in infrastructure funding will harm our economic recovery. The bill cuts more than a $1 billion to state efforts to improve their water systems and waterways, almost a $1 billion in cuts to Community Development Block Grants and puts an end to high speed rail projects that industry sees as critical for American competitiveness. The bill also cuts more $700 million in funding for state and local law enforcement.

President Obama and Democratic Leaders should be lauded for their efforts to protect some progressive priorities, keeping some of the worst ideas in the Republican bill out of this version. Dramatic cuts to education, repeal of Health Care Reform and restrictions to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau were averted.

We must thoughtfully address our deficit, but I believe the best way to help the deficit is to get our economy going and by making the richest Americans pay their fair share of taxes.  I’ve proven my willingness to make hard cuts by voting for $12 billion in cuts, many to programs that I have supported in the past.

Rep.  Ellmers statement regarding vote to fund government for remainder of FY 2011

Congresswoman Ellmers released the following statement after voting for a resolution to fund the government for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011:

“Republicans took a significant step to put the government on a path to fiscal discipline. With this vote, Republicans made it clear to Washington Democrats that the days of budget tricks, accounting gimmicks and empty promises are over.”

“Although over $38 billion in cuts is significant, we are only scratching the surface. Now is the time to move from cutting billions, to cutting trillions. To attain a secure and prosperous future for our children and grandchildren, Democrats must cooperate with Republicans to make the needed common sense spending reductions. If Democrats do not cooperate with Republicans to hold Washington accountable to American families, we promise to leave future generations with an America full of debt, doubt and despair. American families have cut their budgets and tightened their belts. It’s time for Washington to do the same.”

“The time is now to break from the politics of the past and for Congress to deliver for the American people by providing results that matter in families’ daily lives.”

Rep. Shuler statement on passage of CR to fund federal gov’t for remainder of FY 2011

U.S. Representative Heath Shuler released the following statement today after regarding the passage of a Continuing Resolution to fund the federal government for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011.

“Today Democrats and Republicans came together to pass a Continuing Resolution that funds our government for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011 and provides certainty for the American people. While this CR is not perfect, it is the positive result of tough negotiations between both parties. Now, Congress can begin working on the important issues before us and confronting our nation’s long-term budget challenges. I will continue working with my Blue Dog colleagues and all other Members of Congress and Senators, from both sides of the aisle, genuinely committed to reducing our national debt.”

U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick’s Comments on Budget

Today, the House voted on the budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2012.  Introduced by Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, this is a proposal that takes serious action to address federal spending levels, our national debt and deficit, and - for the first time - actually looks to reform entitlement programs so that they are sustainable for current and future recipients.  Visit the Budget Committee website for more information about the FY 2012 budget proposal, and click the image below for a video message from Rep. Myrick about why she supports The Path To Prosperity.

McIntyre Statement on Federal Budget Votes
       Washington, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Mike McIntyre issued the following statement regarding today’s budget debate on the U.S. House floor:

“Solving our fiscal problems will require a bi-partisan approach – Democrats, Republicans, and Independents working together to find the best answers.  That work must be done now and the bickering that has long dominated these important issues must stop!

“With a federal debt approaching almost $14 trillion, it is clear that our nation can no longer sustain itself on the current path of budgeting.

“I have long supported a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution and also support the benchmarks recently released by the Blue Dog Coalition that include:
• making largest deficit cuts in history by 2014;
• cutting the deficit by $4 trillion over the next 10 years;
• stabilizing the debt and maintain a debt ratio to 60 percent of GDP by 2024;
• returning to 2008 spending levels by 2013;
• reducing the deficit to 2.3 percent of GDP in 4 years;
“We need to reduce the size of government and achieve deficit reduction with 2/3 spending cuts and 1/3 tax reform. Everything must be on the table, including discretionary spending cuts – both security and non-security; Tax Reform; Entitlement Reform; Other Mandatory Policies; and Process Reforms.

“However, I did not vote for and will not support any plan to turn Medicare into a voucher program or gut Medicaid’s ability to provide long term care, or make any cuts to Social Security.  
 
“I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to address the challenges of this country.”

Foxx votes for budget that reduces deficit by $4.4 trillion

Washington, DC—Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (NC-05) today voted for the House-passed 2012 budget that reduces the deficit by $4.4 trillion more than President Obama’s 2012 budget proposal.  The budget also includes an additional $6.6 trillion in spending reductions that brings government spending to below 20 percent of the economy—in comparison to the current spending levels of 24 percent of the economy.  

“Compared to the recent haggling in Congress over billions of dollars of spending, this budget moves the debate towards long-term solutions, rather than short-term cuts,” Foxx said. “By cutting spending by trillions instead of billions and reforming our tax code this budget bill puts us on a path to prosperity and averts the impending debt crisis confronting our nation.”

In addition to cutting spending and reducing the deficit, the budget passed by the House (H.Con.Res 34.) also ends corporate welfare for bailed out companies, agribusiness and other recipients of government largess.  The budget also contains a spending cap that limits the growth of federal spending to a specific percentage of the economy.   Plus, the budget takes spending off of autopilot by requiring regular congressional review and approval of so-called “mandatory” spending and by fixing programs like Medicaid and Medicare that are headed for bankruptcy.

“For too long the federal government has grown larger and larger, piling up huge debts and impacting more and more aspects of Americans’ lives,” Foxx said.  “It’s time we asked the question, is the federal government too expensive, too large and too powerful?  The answer is a resounding, 'yes,’ and this budget begins to fix the problem and put in place safeguards to hold government over-spending in check.”

The budget passed the House 235 to 193.