Rigell Supports Budget Resolution To Protect Defense Budget from Sequestration

Press Release

Today Congressman Scott Rigell (VA-2) voted in favor of the FY13 House Budget Resolution which protects the defense budget from sequestration's devastating cuts. The House of Representatives passed the resolution 228-191, and it now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Rigell, a member of the House Armed Services Committee said: "This budget reasserts our national priorities by doing three critical things: first, it stops the sequestration, which would devastate our national security and our local economy. A strong defense is the first responsibility of the federal government. This budget provides $554 billion in defense funds for the next fiscal year and $6.2 trillion over the next decade. This is essential to maintain America's military goals. America's troops and military families should not pay the price for Washington's failure to take action.

"Second, it saves Medicare for current and future retirees. Third, this budget brings down the deficit and balances our budget over time, which is the only responsible way to reverse the dangerous fiscal trajectory of our country. This budget saves our Republic from collapsing under debt."

The budget was lauded by fiscal and defense hawks alike as a bold step in the right direction. An editorial in the Wall Street Journal this week said: "The contrast between the House Republican budget and that of our current commander-in-chief is striking. President Obama has been arguing that raising taxes is the only solution to sequestration that he will accept. In other words, he asks the nation to decide between higher taxes and a weaker defense. (This budget) does not cut indiscriminately, focusing instead on the true drivers of our spending crisis and recognizing that tax increases would worsen our economic situation."

Beyond preventing sequestration, the House Budget Resolution accomplishes the following:

* Cuts spending by $5 trillion relative to President Obama's budget proposal, which the House of Representatives unanimously voted down on March 28.
* Consolidates tax brackets and lowers tax rates to promote growth.
* Eliminates special interest loopholes and deductions to reform the tax code.
* Brings the size of government to 20% of the economy by 2015.
* Repeals the Affordable Care Act to restore the patient/doctor relationship and strengthen Medicare.

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