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.
Over the weekend, Speaker John Boehner tried to defend the House Republican leadership’s lack of legislative accomplishments. When asked on Face the Nation about the 113th Congress’ record as the least productive in history and its low approval rating, Speaker Boehner attempted to redefine how to judge success:
Unfortunately, Republicans appear to be unable – or unwilling – to learn from the past. Despite the risk that comes with playing games with our country’s economy, several Republicans are indicating they want to threaten a government shutdown in order to repeal the Affordable Care Act:
While House Republicans aren’t taking any action to stop the sequester’s reckless, across-the-board cuts, its impact continues to spread. With just two legislative weeks left until the August district work period – and only two full legislative weeks in September – time is short for action. Here’s a quick look at some of the articles from this weekend covering the avoidable impact of the sequester:
“Mr. Speaker, for civilian defense employees at Pax River Naval Air Station, Webster Field, and the Naval Surface Warfare Center at Indian Head, all of which I represent – and Mr. Jones, who's on the Floor, represents a substantial number as well in his district – sequestration hit home last week as furloughs began. The same is true for 650,000 civilian defense workers throughout our country.
“The Mid-Session Review released by the Office of Management and Budget this afternoon shows that the President’s budget proposal for FY2014 continues to be a serious approach to deficit reduction that will put America back on the path to fiscal stability.
MESSAGE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP
This week, House Republicans failed to pass a farm bill providing certainty to America’s farmers after they added harmful partisan amendments to the original bill that would make drastic cuts to critical nutrition programs. This Republican farm bill would have cut $20.5 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, of which half of its beneficiaries a
“I think [the market today] says a lot about uncertainty. We still have … a federal government, Congress of the United States, that is not giving certainty and confidence to the economy that we're going to be on a fiscally-sustainable, stable path, that we’re going to come to compromise, whatever the bills might be, whatever the policies might be, that we will overcome gridlock
"It has been 91 days since the House passed its budget, but Speaker Boehner has yet to follow regular order by appointing conferees. Only then can negotiations with the Senate on a final version begin in earnest. A budget conference is the best shot at reaching a compromise agreement on a big and balanced solution to our deficits that can replace the entire sequester and provide American families and businesses with the certainty they need.
“I thank the Gentleman for yielding, and I thank him for his work and I thank Mr. Lucas for his work. We struggle in this Congress to try to bring bipartisan legislation to the Floor. It's a shame. I've normally voted for the farm bill, for reasons I'll express here.
“I am pleased that President Obama has nominated Jason Furman as Chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisors.