Washington – Senator Evan Bayh released the following statement today after voting against the 2009 budget resolution. He was the only Senate Democrat to oppose the budget, which passed by a vote of 48-45.

“Today, I voted against a budget that piles another $2 trillion onto the more than $9 trillion national debt we have today. It contains huge deficits and debt, financed increasingly by borrowing from foreign governments. Going deeper into debt to China and Japan undermines our economy and our national security.

“During these challenging economic times, we cannot afford business as usual. With families and businesses tightening their belts, the federal government also must start living within its means. If we continue our reckless spending habits in Washington, we risk becoming the first generation to leave our children with a country less prosperous and secure than the one we inherited. We can’t let that happen.”

“While I do not support this budget, I recognize that it does contain several important provisions to help American families, including an amendment I sponsored to make permanent the expiring middle class tax cuts. It also includes property tax relief that I proposed to help homeowners who do not itemize their deductions. However, it does not contain important belt-tightening steps that I pushed for, including a one-year moratorium on earmark spending.”

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