Administration's FY2012 Budget

Statement

Today, U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) released the following statement on the Administration's fiscal year 2012 budget request.

We should change course from spending money that we do not have. Americans sent a clear November message to cut spending. The President's new budget request will reduce the deficit by approximately one-quarter of what his own deficit commission recommended. Congress should embrace more dramatic reforms, led by reducing spending to pre-stimulus, 2008 levels.

Despite the lack of dramatic change in the budget, there are some commendable steps taken. Specifically, the Administration laid out the option to wind down Fannie and Freddie after losing over $150 billion. They started a needed debate on medical lawsuit reform. Unfortunately, we do not need state grants for pilot projects on this -- we need the actual reforms to reduce the cost of family health care.

I support the Administration's cuts to the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle, Joint Forces Command, Joint Strike Fighter 2nd Engine and SLAMRAAM Surface-to-Air Missile. I also was encouraged by the budget's proposal to consolidate 55 duplicative highway programs into five.

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