Hoyer Statement on House Democratic Budget Alternative for Fiscal Year 2014
WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today on the House Democratic Budget Alternative for Fiscal Year 2014:
“Americans expect their representatives to craft a budget that reflects our nation’s priorities and challenges, which is what the House Democratic budget released today by Ranking Member Van Hollen does. While we must responsibly address our deficits and move toward greater fiscal discipline, we must remain focused on creating jobs and moving our economic recovery forward. The Democratic budget does so by embracing the goals of House Democrats’ Make It In America jobs plan and by pursuing a balanced approach to deficit reduction.
“The differences between the Republican and Democratic budgets could not be more stark. Unlike the Republican budget, which relies on unspecified savings and severe cuts to domestic programs, the Democratic budget is based on real numbers and focuses on stabilizing deficits while enabling Congress to invest in growing our economy. Where their budget again cuts taxes for the wealthiest while putting the burden of deficit reduction on the middle class and the most vulnerable, ours employs a balanced approach to deficit reduction. Where their budget doubles the sequester cuts to non-defense programs, ours responsibly replaces it with a combination of new revenues and targeted spending cuts. While the Republican budget ends the Medicare guarantee by transforming it into a voucher program, the Democratic alternative preserves that guarantee for seniors who worked hard for years while paying into it.
“The American people flatly rejected this Republican plan last November. It’s time for House Republicans to set their extreme, partisan agenda aside and instead work with Democrats to pass a budget that reflects the will of the people – one that restores fiscal discipline in a sensible way and that invests in a strong economic future for all Americans.”
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