Fiscal Responsibility
Over the years, Democrats have shown our commitment to restoring fiscal responsibility by taking actions that have reduced our national deficit while investing in the American people’s priorities. During the 117th Congress, House Democrats delivered the landmark Inflation Reduction Act, which will reduce the deficit by over $300 billion while lowering health care and energy costs and taking action on climate change. In sharp contrast, Republicans jammed their 2017 Trump Tax Scam through Congress without a single hearing, gifting trillions of dollars in unpaid-for tax handouts to the wealthiest Americans and large corporations while leaving our nation with ballooning deficits. They have repeatedly held our economy hostage to benefit their irresponsible ideological agenda, whether creating artificial “fiscal cliffs,” shutting down the government, or bringing our nation to the brink of defaulting on its obligations. With other landmark legislation delivered during the 117th Congress, including the American Rescue Plan, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the CHIPS and Science Act, Democrats have worked to invest in economic recovery, job creation, all while cutting the deficit in half last year. Democrats are committed to continuing our work to restore sound, long-term fiscal management so future generations can afford to invest in opportunities, secure the American Dream, and ensure workers have the tools to Make It In America.
House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI), along with Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Rep. James McGovern (D-MA), sent the following letter to Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Director Douglas Elmendorf requesting an analysis of the economic impact of House Republicans’ legislation that cuts nearly $40 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and denies vital food support for four to six million low-income Americans. The letter asked that the CBO include the impact of these cuts on economic growth and jobs in any analysis of the bill.
“I'm sure that it will renew the discussions about access to weapons that can be used to kill a lot of people quickly. … what we have seen in so many of these instances are that the perpetrators have given previous indication of instability, even inclinations to use weapons, and to talk about violence. So there was no doubt this was somebody who had a record of instability and certainly should have been, I think, subject to closer scrutiny, particularly in access to a facility such as the Navy Yard, or any facility that has large numbers of people in it, that has security concerns in the United States.”
“Five years ago, our nation faced the most dangerous financial crisis since the Great Depression when our financial and housing markets neared collapse as a result of unsavory practices by some of our county’s largest banks. Had it not been for emergency, bipartisan steps taken by the Congress and the Bush Administration, we might have witnessed economic catastrophe.
“Clearly, I don't think we can allow [the negotiations] to be used as a delaying tactic. This has to be either real, as Secretary Kerry pointed out, specific, and immediate, but whether it's days or weeks, but certainly not longer than weeks where we get to a place where we think this is real.
MESSAGE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP
Over the last few weeks, America has been faced with devastating stories and images from Syria, where the Assad regime used chemical weapons against his own people, including women and children. I stand in support of President Obama’s call to authorize limited but decisive military action, and also support his efforts to achieve a diplomatic solution that provides confidence to the international community that S
A look at headlines across the country reveals that the pain of the irrational cuts from the sequester continue to be felt across the country:
USA Today: Sequester hits special education like 'a ton of bricks'
“As you saw we had the 41st vote on the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, Obamacare, today. Notwithstanding that, we didn't do anything else. That bill won't have any future. And we did not do what we need to do, and that is ensure that the government doesn't shut down on October 1st.
“Certainly I think [a diplomatic solution with Syria] is a very positive possibility. And if it bears fruit, it's going to be a very good resolution of this issue.
Pretty sure House Republicans aren’t wild about this afternoon’s headlines. After yanking their partisan continuing resolution that continues the sequester and defunds the Affordable Care Act from the Floor schedule after failing to earn enough GOP support, the press went to town highlighting the GOP dysfunction. Here’s a quick look at some of today’s coverage:
“Once again, House Republicans are in disarray, unable to govern as a result of division and dysfunction. Even when promising a continuation of their policy of sequester and another defunding of the Affordable Care Act – gifts to the extreme wing of their party – Republicans lacked sufficient support and were unable to bring their bill to the Floor.