Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Rep. Becerra Votes Against FY07 Budget Resolution

'The House Tonight Failed The American People In A Shameful And Regrettable Way'

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Xavier Becerra (CA-31), the only congressional member from Southern California on the House Committee on Ways and Means, tonight voted against H.Con.Res.376, the $2.8 trillion fiscal year 2007 budget resolution, which passed in the House by a party-line vote of 218 to 210.

Citing a massive increase in our nation's debt, harmful cuts to critical services for working families, health care programs, education programs, and veterans' benefits, while at the same time enacting new tax cuts that provide paltry relief to middle class Americans, Rep. Becerra issued the following statement:

"It's hard to believe that this chamber is willing to pass a budget resolution that authorizes the spending of $2.8 trillion of the taxpayers' hard earned dollars, and yet we are still left with draconian cuts to critical programs, while at the same time racking up another record-setting deficit that will total $348 billion.

"And let's not forget that hidden within the Budget Committee report that accompanies this budget is a $653 increase in our debt limit, bringing the nation's debt to $9.618 trillion. This will be the fifth time that President Bush has maxed out the federal credit card and asked for a higher credit limit. The costs of this fiscal irresponsibility will be left on the next generation who will look back on today's action and see it as a mere pinprick compared to the pain they will have to endure when our federal budget is consumed by interest payments on our federal debt.

"Two sensible Democratic substitute budget blueprints were offered up tonight that would have provided middle class tax relief and a responsible pay as you go system of governing, while at the same time eliminating the economy-crushing deficit by 2012. Unfortunately, those budgets were defeated.

"There is little doubt in my mind that the House of Representatives tonight failed the American people in a shameful and regrettable way."