Marino: This Adheres to Principles of Cut, Cap and Balance

Statement

Rep. Tom Marino, PA-10, voted in favor of S. 627, the Budget Control Act of 2011, a resolution that adheres to the principles of Cut, Cap and Balance and would set the nation on the right fiscal course.

Marino said the measure contains many of the provisions that my constituents have been pushing for while keeping American from defaulting on its debt."

The plan does not contain a tax increase, it includes strict caps on federal spending, cuts discretionary spending by $917 billion while raising the debt ceiling by $900 billion, and provides for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.

Marino praised the decision to include the balanced budget amendment in the legislation. As a condition for President Obama to raise the debt ceiling early next year, the legislation mandates that a balanced budget amendment be passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification.

"I spent the last two weeks talking with constituents, reading the feedback they sent through my district offices and website, consulting with financial experts, and weighing the pros and cons with colleagues," Marino said. "I believe this legislation is an important step forward for our nation."

Marino said he is pleased that the bill requires Congress to address the issue of raising the debt ceiling again in several months--and not put off the heated debate until after the 2012 election, as the president had proposed.

"It is now up to (Senate Leader) Harry Reid and President Obama to decide whether we will default on our debt or not," Marino said. "House Republicans have sent several plans to the Senate, a clear indication that we are working hard to put the United States on a path to economic recovery. And still, we haven't seen a plan from the White House or the Senate."

Marino acknowledged the bill "accomplishes many of our main goals such as spending cuts, and keeping taxes low."

"It calls for the approval of a balanced budget amendment which is the best guarantee that we will never again find ourselves in such a financial disaster," he said.

Source