Sen. Moran Issues Satement On Pres. Obama’s Budget

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, released the following statement today in reaction to President Obama’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 budget:

“On Sunday, one of President Obama’s senior advisors told Americans that ‘the time for austerity is not today,’ and the budget delivered to Congress yesterday clearly indicates that the President agrees with that statement. At a time when our national debt stands at more than $15 trillion, President Obama continues to ignore our country’s fiscal reality by failing to offer real solutions to our debt and deficit problem. Instead, his budget calls for new taxes, increased spending and record debt.

“The President proposes $1.9 trillion in new taxes on families, small businesses and job creators which will hurt our already fragile economic recovery . And his record proves that anytime taxes go up, spending goes up. Despite the fact that our country faces its fourth year with a deficit of more than $1 trillion, President Obama’s budget proposes $47 trillion in government spending over the next decade. With 13 million Americans unemployed, the revenues we need to balance our books are not tax increases, but revenues that come from a growing economy where Americans and Kansans are working. When our economy is strong, the federal government can pay down its debt and Americans can provide for their families.

“The President’s budget also punts the tough choices needed to ensure the future health of Social Security and Medicare. Congress must step in where President Obama is continually unwilling to do so. A good starting point would be the recommendations put forth by the Bowles-Simpson Commission, which recognize that real reforms and real cuts must take place across the board to get our fiscal house in order. Given the magnitude of the problem and the bipartisan support for many of their proposals, their recommendations cannot continue to be ignored.

“Whether we have the willingness to tackle our fiscal crisis in the near future will determine the course of our country for the next generation. Our economy can and will recover when we begin to live within our means.”