BLUNT TO DEMS: BALANCE BUDGET WITHOUT TAX, SPENDING INCREASES
House Republican Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.) today cited the dramatic reduction in the federal budget deficit, which is $85 billion lower than it was last year, as clear evidence that reduced spending - and not increased taxes - is the best path to a balanced budget:
"One of my biggest frustrations with Democrats is their failure to understand that we can balance the budget without raising taxes. The dramatic reduction of our federal budget deficit is proof that we are well on our way to being back in the black - and we are doing it in a manner that doesn't saddle hard-working Americans with a greater tax burden.
"But Democrats can't resist scratching that all too familiar itch by increasing spending and expanding government. We've already seen this happen with spending bills that are billions of dollars over what the administration has requested.
"The president has been clear in stating that any spending bill that exceeds the budget will earn a veto. If Democrats are serious about their mantra' of fiscal restraint, they should stop playing games with the five appropriations bills - most importantly the veterans' spending bill - that are ready to go to conference. It's time to get to work on what the American people sent us to Congress to do."
NOTE: While the Senate has already named conferees to the FY 2008 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, Speaker Pelosi has refused to name House conferees. The Office of Management and Budget today announced that the FY 2007 budget is $163 billion - down $85 billion from last year.