Congressman Doug Lamborn voted in favor the Budget Control Act of 2011, the revised Boehner plan. The bill passed the House today by a vote of 218 to 210. The bill now heads to the Senate for a vote.

“This is not a perfect plan, but it is a sincere, honest effort to fundamentally change the way Washington does business.  It ensures that the federal government will meet all its financial obligations in the short term. Under this plan, every government payment would go out on time. But, down the road, it calls for additional spending cuts and a balanced budget amendment before Congress will raise the debt ceiling a second time.  

“I would prefer deeper spending cuts. But I am glad for the possibility of putting more fiscal discipline for Congress into the Constitution. This is the only way we can control spending and make sure that the American dream survives for our children and grandchildren.

“This is the second time in ten days that House Republicans have sent to the Senate a common-sense plan for restoring our nation’s fiscal strength. I urge our Senators to work with us in a bipartisan effort to solve our overspending problem.” - Doug Lamborn (CO-05)

Budget Control Act of 2011 – Five Key Points

1. Guarantees Passage of the Balanced Budget Amendment for Additional Debt Limit Increase:

The Budget Control Act requires the House and Senate to pass a balanced budget amendment before the second debt limit increase occurs.  This will force each member of Congress to show his or her constituents if they believe Washington should spend money it doesn’t have.

2. Avoids a Default on Current Obligations:

The Budget Control Act would cut and cap discretionary spending immediately, cutting $22 billion in spending next year, saving $917 billion over ten years, and raise the debt ceiling by less – up to $900 billion – in order to avoid default.

3. Rejects Calls for Job-Killing Tax Increases:

The Budget Control Act includes no tax hikes, and ensures that if tax hikes are a part of any negotiations for a future debt limit increase, the House can easily vote them down.

4. Cuts More Than It Hikes:

The Budget Control Act also creates a Joint Committee of Congress that is required to report legislation that would produce a proposal to reduce the deficit by at least $1.8 trillion over 10 years, in addition to a Balanced Budget Amendment being sent to the states. Each Chamber would consider the proposal of the Joint Committee on an up-or-down basis without any amendments.  If the proposal is enacted and a Balanced Budget Amendment is sent to the states, then the president would be authorized to request a debt limit increase of $1.6 trillion. 

5. Changes Washington’s Spending Culture:

For the first time in the history of modern federal budgeting, House Republicans will cut discretionary federal spending for two straight years.  Analysis by the House Budget Committee shows the GOPBudget Control Act achieves roughly 66 percent of the discretionary spending cuts in the House-passed budget.

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