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.
"What the Federal Employee Pay Comparability Act does, that I have pointed out to you was adopted in a bipartisan way, working with the OMB, OPM, and the first Bush Administration.
Here’s a headline we never thought we’d see: “House GOP: Pentagon crying ‘wolf’ on sequester.”
Despite warnings from our national security advisors, POLITICO notes “some Republicans have responded with skepticism, and different wings of the party remain deeply conflicted about whether to allow the looming cuts to take effect.”
“The Gentleman who preceded me is new to the Congress of the United States. I've been here for a little longer than that, some 32 years. This is the least confidence building Congress – last Congress and this Congress – in which I have ever served. It is taking us from fiscal crisis to fiscal crisis. It is creating cliffs where no cliffs ought to exist, and they undermine the confidence of business, America, Americans, and, indeed, the rest of the world that needs a stable and secure America to ensure that we keep the kind of stability that Americans want here at home and around the world.
With the deadline to avert the sequester fast approaching, Republicans have decided their best strategy is to… do nothing?
According to Politico, Speaker Boehner has given up trying to work on meaningful legislation and is instead “perfectly fine with sitting on his hands.”
“Mr. Speaker, the President spoke to us last night and he talked to us about avoiding the sequester.
The sequester was designed as an irrational and harmful policy that would force lawmakers to reach a balanced and bipartisan solution. Unfortunately, as more Republicans have supported the policy, we can’t help but begin to wonder: are Republicans more irrational than the sequester itself?
The latest Republican to embrace these devastating cuts:
Over the past several weeks Republicans have increasingly shown their support of the sequester, which is due to take effect in just over two weeks.
“I certainly think that we need to encourage business growth in our country, manufacturing in our country.
“Mr. Speaker, tonight the President will once again walk into this chamber and lay out a vision for how to strengthen America in the years ahead.
With only 8 legislative days remaining until the sequester is scheduled to take effect, time is running short. While many Republicans are refusing to compromise and want these harmful cuts to go forward, this weekend gave a glimmer of hope that some Republicans might still be willing to put the national interest ahead of conservative mantra and join Democrats at the negotiating table.