Buchanan Statement on GOP 2012 Budget

Statement

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (FL-13) issued the following statement in response to the release of House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan's, R-WI, proposed budget for the next fiscal year beginning October 1, 2011.

"Chairman Ryan's budget proposal represents a bold and serious attempt to get our fiscal House in order," said Buchanan, Florida's only member of the powerful Ways & Means Committee. "We have to put an end to the irresponsible spending policies that have created a mountain of debt for our children and grandchildren. The Ryan budget moves us in the right direction and I look forward to reviewing the details in the days ahead and discussing it with my constituents."

Chairman Ryan's budget proposes $6.2 trillion in spending reductions over the next decade compared to President Obama's budget. That's $2 trillion more than the plan offered by the President's own debt commission, which concluded the President's budget did little to "resolve our fiscal nightmare."

"For too long, both parties have turned a blind eye to our country's financial woes," said Buchanan. "The time is now for Washington to make the tough choices necessary to get our economy back on track."

Buchanan recently introduced a constitutional balanced budget amendment identical to the version embraced by Republican leaders in the Senate. His legislation would require Washington to balance its budget by 2016.

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