Washington, DC – “The House Democrats’ budget is business as usual in Washington,” said Congressman Mac Thornberry.  “The Democrat budget is full of promises that can’t be kept without the money to pay for them, and it uses the gimmick of ‘reserve funds’ to hide the truth that the only way to get that money is to raise taxes.”

Thornberry noted that according to the House Republican Budget Committee the Democrat budget contains 16 “reserve funds” that call for an unspecified total in spending increases, if offset with commensurate savings or – as is far more likely – higher taxes. The only identified spending amount is a proposed $50-billion increase for the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). None of the reserve funds accommodates the health care proposals of the two Democratic presidential candidates.

“We need to be serious about confronting our budget and economic problems, not play more Washington games,” said Thornberry.  “The Democratic budget fails to address our energy supply problems, fails to fully budget for Iraq and Afghanistan, fails to rescue Social Security and Medicare, and proposes a record-setting ($82 billion) 1-year appropriations increase.”

Congressman Thornberry, sponsor of H.R. 1586, a bill to permanently repeal the death tax, said “I have sponsored or cosponsored a dozen bills to rein in spending, hold the line on taxes and balance the federal budget.  The people are demanding change and the Democratic Leadership in Congress needs to give these bills a vote to enact real budget, spending, and tax reforms.”

Thornberry is the sponsor or co-sponsor of the following budget, spending and tax reform bills:

Balanced Budget Reform

H.J. RES. 1, The Balanced Budget Amendment – Constitutional Amendment requiring the federal government to balance the budget annually;

Spending Reform

H.R. 689, the Legislative Line Item Veto Act – Allows the President to propose wasteful earmarks for elimination with the up or down approval of Congress;

H.CON.RES.263, Establishes the Joint Select Committee on Earmark Reform;

H.R.3654, Establishes a commission to develop legislation designed to reform tax policy and entitlement benefit programs and ensure a sound fiscal future for the United States, and for other purposes;

Tax Relief and Reform

H.R. 510, the Tax Code Termination Act – Sunsets the entire federal tax code; forcing Congress to debate and act upon a new tax code that is fairer and more equitable;

H.R. 411, Permanently extends successful 2001 and 2003 tax relief measures like the teacher tax credit, child tax credit, state sales tax credit, and marriage penalty relief;

H.R.25, The FAIR Tax promotes freedom, fairness, and economic opportunity by repealing the income tax and other taxes, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service, and enacting a national sales tax to be administered primarily by the States;

H.R. 1586, a bill to permanently repeal the death tax;

H.R.1366, Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the alternative minimum tax on individuals;

H.R.2158, Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the 1993 income tax increase on Social Security benefits;

H.R.3818, Amends amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the alternative minimum tax on individuals and replace it with an alternative tax individuals may choose;

H.R.5109, Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for permanent tax incentives for economic growth.

“The federal government should only tax what is necessary to perform its constitutional functions.  When the budget comes up I always try to remember that every dollar spent by the federal government is taken out of the wallet or purse of an American who earned it – a taxpayer who is also trying to feed a family, pay for health care, or send a child to college,” Thornberry concluded.

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