When More Just Isn’t Enough – Democrats Propose Double Digit Spending Increases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a committee mark up today, House Appropriations Democrats will propose a spending plan for Fiscal Year 2010 Appropriations bills that provides a massive, 12% increase in federal spending for next year.

 

This large funding allocation comes on the heels of two years of unprecedented federal spending. Since the Democrats took control of Congress, Appropriations spending from Fiscal Year 2007 to Fiscal Year 2009 increased by 41%. During the same period, non-defense Appropriations spending has increased 85% - a near doubling of spending on domestic and international programs.

 

House Appropriations Ranking Republican Jerry Lewis expressed his staunch opposition to these historic spending increases.

 

“I believe we have an obligation to make the difficult choices, set priorities, and root out wasteful government spending. But, this Committee has, so far, chosen to walk away from that obligation,” Lewis said.

 

In an attempt to bring some “sanity” to Appropriations spending decisions, Lewis will propose a Republican alternative to the Democrats’ spending plan. In the alternative, defense, military construction and veterans programs will receive a 6% increase, and homeland security will receive a 4% increase. All other discretionary spending will be held to the rate of inflation – or a 2% increase. The remaining unspent discretionary funds - approximately $35 billion – will be used to start paying down this year’s huge, $1.3 trillion budget deficit.

 

“Our nation is facing both a war and a severe economic crisis. We must pare back spending to responsible and sustainable levels, provide adequate increases in critical priorities such as our national defense, veterans and homeland security, and insert some clear common sense into our budget decisions,” Lewis said.