Feingold Calls for Fiscal Discipline in Federal Budget Process Senator warns against new spending and tax cuts the nation can ill-afford January 28, 2002 Palmyra, WI - U.S. Senator Russ Feingold today talked about the importance of restoring discipline to the federal budgeting process as Congress faces the challenge of funding important new priorities, including the war on terrorism. A member of the Senate Budget Committee, Feingold has warned his colleagues against spending increases and tax cuts that the nation cannot afford as it works to fund its priorities. "In this era of pressing new challenges, we cannot forget the value of fiscal responsibility that helped the economy thrive during the last decade," Feingold said. "If we return to the kind of irresponsible budget policy that plagued the economy during the 1980s, we will end up right back in the era of big deficits that burdened our economy." Feingold discussed the important work that Congress did in the 1990s to balance the federal books, and the importance of returning to those values of fiscal responsibility and prudent budgeting. On the Senate Budget Committee, Feingold has worked against irresponsible spending and federal budgets that depend on rosy budget forecasts that predict big budget surpluses. Feingold warned that if we return to heavy deficit spending, future generations will face an enormous challenge as the baby boom generation starts to retire and draws upon the Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid programs. "Congress and the White House have planned federal spending around rosy budget predictions that haven't come true, and suddenly we find ourselves right back in the deficit-spending ditch," Feingold said. "The challenge we face is about more than just budget estimates and columns on a spreadsheet -- it's about our future, and the future for our kids and grandkids. We need to put the budget back on a path that will enable us to meet our commitments without saddling our children and grandchildren with an enormous financial burden." Feingold's 12th session of the year, and 660th since he was first elected, took place at the Community Center at Palmyra-Eagle High School beginning at 9 a.m. His 13th session of 2002, and 661st since he was first elected, took place at the Council Chambers at the New Berlin City Hall beginning at 11:45 a.m. This is Feingold’s tenth year of holding Listening Sessions in each of Wisconsin’s 72 counties.

# # #