“This budget agreement is a difficult but necessary first
step toward bringing federal spending under control. It is also one, among
many, tough decisions we’ll face as we work to find a delicate balance between
the need to invest in our recovery and the need to address an unsustainable
debt that threatens our future.
“This is not an ideal compromise, but compromises rarely
are. While we have successfully cut spending by nearly $79 billion and kept the
federal government open for the remainder of the fiscal year, there are many
provisions in this bill that are difficult to swallow. Unfortunately,
throughout this effort, Republicans have targeted cuts at only a small sliver
of federal spending that disproportionately goes to many who need help most
right now.
“Thankfully, we have successfully fought back against
some of the most drastic and painful cuts Republicans have proposed. Instead of
being shut out, thousands of homeless veterans will receive new vouchers to
find safe and secure housing under this agreement. Instead of being drastically
cut, Head Start will continue to provide low income children with the same early learning
advantages available to other kids. And instead of being turned away, women
will still have access to local care for cervical and breast cancer screenings,
prenatal care, and family planning services. These are fights we
shouldn’t have had to have in the first place, but they are important wins
nonetheless.
“If we are going to find common ground in the debates
ahead, Republicans need to be willing to focus on ideas that work, not
ideology. Too often they have used our debt crisis as cover to push
ideologically driven ideas like cutting women’s health care, putting
environmental protections on the chopping block, and dismantling social safety
nets. Republicans know that abortion services in the District of Columbia, or
clean air standards, or Wall Street reform efforts aren’t adding to our
national debt, yet they continue to target these programs in an effort to cater
to the most radical elements of their party. This needs to end.
“It’s time to have an honest conversation on the real
drivers of our debt and deficit, and about the choices we have to address them
in the midst of a fragile economic recovery. This week, Republicans have
introduced a plan that will end Medicare and Medicaid as we know it while
simultaneously providing $1 trillion in tax breaks for the wealthiest
Americans. I believe this is the wrong approach. Instead, I believe that we
must continue to protect seniors and our most vulnerable while ensuring that
everyone – including the wealthiest Americans – bear some responsibility for
balancing the budget. I also believe that any real discussion on long term debt
and deficit reduction must include cuts to wasteful defense spending and must
take steps to bring our men and women in uniform – who have done everything we
have asked of them – home to their families.
“Like all Washingtonians, I don’t want to see my
grandson’s generation inherit the deep debt that has been built up over the
last decade, but I also don’t want him to inherit crumbling infrastructure,
failing schools, or an economy in which he can’t achieve the same dreams as his
parents or grandparents. It’s time to move forward with a balanced, honest, and
responsible approach to deliver opportunity for future generations.”
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