Blue Dog Statements on President’s FY2013 Budget
February 13, 2012
Leaders Appreciate Focus on Deficit Reduction, but Argue It’s Not Enough
Leaders of the fiscally conservative, Democratic Blue Dog Coalition in the U.S. House of Representatives issued the following statements in reaction to President Obama releasing his FY2013 budget proposal on Monday.
"While I look forward to carefully reviewing the President's budget in detail, I'm pleased that it cuts spending overall," said Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications. "However, we can and must do more to get our fiscal house back in order and return to the days of balanced budgets. The reality is that Congress hasn't passed all of its appropriations bills on time for 15 straight years. The American people deserve the certainty of a solid budget and stable government and both parties in Congress need to fulfill their basic duty and pass a budget on time. As we have done since 1995, the Blue Dogs will continue to lead the bipartisan effort in the House to promote fiscal responsibility, create more private-sector jobs and get our economy back on track."
"Developing a budget that can pass the House, Senate, and be signed into law by the President will be difficult," said Rep. John Barrow, D-Ga., Blue Dog Co-Chair for Policy. "I'm going to take a close look at the President's budget and identify ways we can cut spending, get our economy moving, and create jobs. I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will join me in making the tough choices necessary to build a bipartisan budget – rather than revert to the blind partisanship that's failed to produce a budget for the American people year after year."
"I appreciate the President's efforts to change the trajectory of government spending in line with the bipartisan Budget Control Act passed last year," said Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Ore., Chair of the Blue Dog Task Force on Fiscal Responsibility. "I also applaud his continued focus on creating jobs now and in the future through vital investments in infrastructure and education. However, I still encourage the President to adopt the long-held Blue Dog principle of cutting deficits by at least $4 trillion over the next ten years, or else the long-term future of our nation's younger generation remains bleak."
The fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition was formed in 1995 with the goal of representing the center of the House of Representatives and appealing to the mainstream values of the American public. The Blue Dogs are dedicated to a core set of beliefs that transcend partisan politics, including a deep commitment to the financial stability and national security of the United States. Visit the Blue Dog website at https://ross.house.gov/BlueDog to learn more. You can also get up-to-the-minute news updates on Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/BlueDogPress.
"While I look forward to carefully reviewing the President's budget in detail, I'm pleased that it cuts spending overall," said Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications. "However, we can and must do more to get our fiscal house back in order and return to the days of balanced budgets. The reality is that Congress hasn't passed all of its appropriations bills on time for 15 straight years. The American people deserve the certainty of a solid budget and stable government and both parties in Congress need to fulfill their basic duty and pass a budget on time. As we have done since 1995, the Blue Dogs will continue to lead the bipartisan effort in the House to promote fiscal responsibility, create more private-sector jobs and get our economy back on track."
"Developing a budget that can pass the House, Senate, and be signed into law by the President will be difficult," said Rep. John Barrow, D-Ga., Blue Dog Co-Chair for Policy. "I'm going to take a close look at the President's budget and identify ways we can cut spending, get our economy moving, and create jobs. I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will join me in making the tough choices necessary to build a bipartisan budget – rather than revert to the blind partisanship that's failed to produce a budget for the American people year after year."
"I appreciate the President's efforts to change the trajectory of government spending in line with the bipartisan Budget Control Act passed last year," said Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Ore., Chair of the Blue Dog Task Force on Fiscal Responsibility. "I also applaud his continued focus on creating jobs now and in the future through vital investments in infrastructure and education. However, I still encourage the President to adopt the long-held Blue Dog principle of cutting deficits by at least $4 trillion over the next ten years, or else the long-term future of our nation's younger generation remains bleak."
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