News release from Congressman Marlin Stutzman (IN-3rd, R):
Stutzman: “The President Refuses to Take Our $16 Trillion Debt Seriously”
(Washington, D.C. – February 5, 2013) – U.S. Congressman Marlin Stutzman issued the following statement today regarding the Administration’s failure to seriously tackle the nation’s fiscal problems:
“The President refuses to take our $16 trillion debt seriously.
“The President was required by law to submit his budget to Congress yesterday. He missed that deadline.
“Today the President announced he would continue to put off the tough choices by offering more of the same: tax increases that hurt small businesses, family farms, and middle class families.
“It’s easy to see why the economic policies of this administration have failed. The President continues to kick the can down the road instead of offering serious solutions.
“I have voted numerous times to ensure that our country meets its deadlines and sets its priorities but for nearly four years the Senate hasn’t done the tough work of budgeting.
“Harry Reid should pass a budget or forgo his pay. The President should submit a balanced budget to Congress that tackles our debt through serious spending cuts. Anything less will continue the pattern of failure of this Administration.”
Background:
- Yesterday, the White House missed its legal deadline to submit a budget request for Fiscal Year 2014 and offered no timetable for when it would release its request.
- Tomorrow, the House is expected to vote on H.R. 444, the Require a PLAN Act. This legislation mandates that if President Obama does not submit a budget that balances within the 10-year budget window, he provide a supplemental budget plan demonstrating in what fiscal year his plan would achieve balance.
- Although the 1974 Congressional Budget Act requires passage of a budget resolution by April 15 each year, the Democrat controlled Senate has not passed a budget resolution since April 29, 2009.
- Last month, Congress passed the “No Budget, No Pay Act” which would force the Senate to join the House in passing a budget before the law’s April 15 deadline or Members of Congress will forgo their pay.
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