Lewis: Cutting Back Spending - Not Raising Taxes - Should be Budget Priority

Apr 12, 2011
Press Release

Lewis: Cutting Back Spending - Not Raising Taxes - Should be Budget Priority

WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Obama today released his proposed budget outline for federal government agencies and programs for the next fiscal year. The information unveiled today is a precursor to the official federal budget request the Administration will submit to Congress in April.

House Appropriations Ranking Republican Jerry Lewis stressed that next year’s spending bills must not follow the current trend of massive government spending, and should aim to cut back the large increases approved by the Democrat Congress in the last few weeks.

“Congress just rushed through over $1.2 trillion in spending in the first 21 days of this legislative year. This hurried approach and its massive price tag will do tremendous harm to our nation’s finances for years to come,” Lewis said. “We must put a stop to this spending spree and make deliberate and restrained funding decisions based on what is best for our country, our communities, and the taxpayers that pay the bill.”

Lewis also emphasized that evaluating and funding programs on their merits, ensuring the wise use of taxpayer dollars, and eliminating unnecessary and wasteful spending should be the top budget priorities.

“The President has stated he wants to cut our deficit in half. If we have even a glimmer of hope to accomplish this goal, we have to start making tough budget decisions immediately. Simply raising taxes to cover funding for unnecessary or wasteful programs is not the answer, and will only further harm our faltering economy,” Lewis said.

“We must rein in unsustainable mandatory spending, eliminate duplicative, wasteful and unnecessary government programs, and support valuable and cost effective programs that can help American families and businesses regain their financial footing,” Lewis continued. “It is the constitutional duty of Congress to fund the federal government, and we welcome the President’s assistance in making this a bi-partisan and fiscally responsible process.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

112th Congress