Norwood Votes for Budget Resolution

Norwood Votes for Budget Resolution

FY06 Budget Contains First Cut in Non-Defense Discretionary Spending Since Ronald Reagan

(Washington, DC) - U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-GA9) tonight (Thursday) voted to approve the House-Senate Conference Agreement on the FY06 Federal Budget, after negotiators won the first reduction in non-defense discretionary spending since the Reagan Administration. The measure passed the House by a 214-210 margin on a nearly straight party-line vote.

"We have a federal deficit that has spiraled out-of-control for a multitude of reasons," says Norwood, "and it's past time we found the courage to truly cut spending where we can. That's never happened since I came here in '95 until now, and is encouraging to me that we have gained the political will to bring this budget back under control."

The Resolution further orders Congress to find ways to cut the rate of mandatory spending by at least $35 billion over the next five years.

The FY06 approved budget calls for $2.56 Trillion in total spending. Of the total, $1.6 Trillion is allocated to mandatory spending such as Social Security and Medicare, while $843 billion is allocated to discretionary spending such as national defense and transportation.

The package also included an average of $23 billion a year in tax cuts over the next five years to continue job growth and economic stimulation.

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ga09_norwood/BudgetResolution.html