Statement on Senate Vote to Block "Cut, Cap and Balance"

Statement

Congressman Rick Berg today issued the following statement after Senate Democrats voted to table the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act:

"It is disappointing that Senate Democrats today blocked the House's effort to come to a debt limit agreement and put in place common sense spending reforms to curb the reckless growth of the federal government. While the House continues to work to put our nation back on a path of fiscal responsibility and economic recovery, President Obama and Senate Democrats have offered nothing but a lot of speeches and untenable plans to raise taxes on the American people, taking more money out of the hands of our job creators and further hindering their ability to create jobs and get our national economy back on track.

"While the House has passed responsible legislation that addresses our debt crisis and provides real, common sense reforms to Washington's spending problem, Senate Democrats have chosen to walk away and do nothing. Americans have made it clear that we need to cut spending, cap the growth of government and balance the budget, but if President Obama and Senate Democrats have a better idea, they should act now and offer meaningful legislation to deal with our debt crisis, not just more rhetoric and talking points."

On Tuesday, the House passed the Cut, Cap and Balance Act of 2011, which answered the President's request for an increase in the debt ceiling while putting short-term, mid-term and long-term measures in place to ensure that real spending reforms are made. The legislation would cut government spending in FY 2012, cap the growth of government over the next ten years as it relates to GDP, and give the states the opportunity to vote on a balanced budget amendment.

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