Ruppersberger Issues Statement on Bipartisan Budget Deal to Roll Back Sequestration

Statement

Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger today issued the following statement on the bipartisan budget deal passed in the U.S. House of Representatives:

"No one walks away from a compromise completely satisfied. I supported a budget proposal today that, while imperfect, will help avert another government shutdown and roll back many of the senseless cuts under sequestration. It will better enable American businesses to plan for the future after years of short-term budget patches.

There are things to both like and dislike about this bipartisan deal. The bill leaves Social Security and Medicare intact and replaces nearly two-thirds of the across-the-board cuts known as sequestration to key investments like education, medical research and public safety set to begin in January. And, while I oppose changes to cost-of-living adjustments for our military retirees and to the federal pension contributions of civil servants, this bill provides a level of stability that is important for government workers still feeling the consequences of October's shutdown. I also appreciate that current federal employees are exempt from these changes.

Regrettably, the deal does not extend unemployment benefits for millions of jobless Americans and I urge House leaders to allow a vote on this critical lifeline before adjournment.

Americans are sick and tired of partisan squabbling in Washington. It is my hope that this compromise will be a small step toward progress on larger issues such as tax and entitlement reform as well as long-term deficit reduction."

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