Blue Dog Leadership on Senate Passage of PAYGO

Today, Blue Dog leaders released the following statements hailing Senate passage of pay-as-you-go legislation as a critical step forward in the coalition's fight to restore fiscal discipline to the federal government.

"This is a real victory for the American people," said Representative Jim Matheson (D-UT), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications. "For years our country has been plagued by reckless fiscal policies; it is time to stop spending money that we do not have. Today we are one step closer to enforcing true budget discipline in Washington by reinstating the proven effective pay-as-you-go rules that brought about budget surpluses in the 1990's."

"Senate passage of PAYGO, coupled with the President's focus on fiscal discipline last night in his State of the Union address, is a responsible and responsive way of addressing the concerns many Americans, including many of my Southern Indiana constituents, have expressed over the last year," said Representative Baron Hill (D-IN), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Policy. "I'm pleased with the Senate's action, and ready to forge a new path toward short- and long-term fiscal responsibility.

"I applaud the Senate and the President for their support of pay-as-you go rules which were responsible for budget surpluses in the 1990s," said Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Administration. "Today's vote is a critical step forward in restoring fiscal discipline and ensuring we don't pass a legacy of debt on to our children and grandchildren."

"Our federal government continues to run up record deficits, in part because of the abandonment of common-sense budget principles like PAYGO," said Representative Heath Shuler (D-NC), Blue Dog Whip. "I applaud the Senate for passing PAYGO, and I look forward to seeing this critical budget enforcement tool become law. Responsible American families don't spend more than they have, and neither should our government. For the sake of future generations of Americans, we have to rein in unnecessary and out-of-control government spending."

"PAYGO is the most important tool for balancing our budget," said Representative John Tanner (D-TN), a founding member of the Blue Dog Coalition. "It is a cornerstone of the Blue Dog philosophy and will help us secure our country for future generations."

"I commend the Senate for following our lead and moving one step closer to restoring fiscal responsibility and integrity to Washington," said Representative Allen Boyd (D-FL), Chairman of the Blue Dog Budget and Financial Services Task Force. "Coupled with other critical reforms laid out in the Blue Dog's Blueprint for Fiscal Reform, this achievement will force Washington to pay its bills and will help get our economy back on the right track."

"Middle Tennessee families are tightening their belts, and living on a budget. The Federal Government needs to do the same," said Representative Jim Cooper (D-TN). "PAYGO is an important step in that process, and I am pleased the Senate has taken action to get America's fiscal house in order."

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