Real Solutions are Needed to Reduce our Nation's Deficit and Create Long-Term Economic Growth
Watch the video of today’s statement on the House Floor
Washington, D.C. –U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz read the following statement today on the House Floor during debate on the Sequestration Transparency Act of 2012.
As prepared for delivery:
“I support a transparent process to ensure that there is public information on the impact of sequestration, which is the automatic spending cuts that are scheduled for next year. Sequestration, which would trigger those automatic cuts, was put in place to force Congress to work together to find a bipartisan, balanced approach to deficit reduction. Today’s legislation does not move us any closer to achieving that goal.
“Time and again the Republicans in Congress have rejected a balanced approach that would include spending cuts, revenue, and economic growth.
“They reject a balanced approach that would protect our nation’s short-term economic recovery and create the right environment for long-term growth.
“They reject a balanced approach—which has been recommended by every bipartisan commission—that would move our country forward by making tough, yet responsible choices on the deficit, and would reflect America’s priorities and build America’s economic strength.
“The American people deserve to know the impact of across the board cuts resulting from the failure of the Republican majority to find that common ground and avoid sequester. But they also deserve real solutions, something the Republican majority has yet to deliver.
“Their so-called solution—the House Republican Budget—takes a partisan, one-sided approach to deficit reduction. It relies solely on spending cuts, and directs the $100 billion cuts next year from sequestration to come only from one part of the budget – non-defense discretionary. All of the $100 billion in cuts would come from our domestic priorities – healthcare, education, scientific research, transportation, and law enforcement, to name a few.
“Their budget fails to require other, even larger parts of the federal budget, to reduce costs and be more efficient. Their budget fails to protect our fragile economic recovery. Their budget fails to create long-term economic growth.
“I urge my Republican colleagues to work with Democrats to find real solutions to deficit reduction and economic growth.”