Rokita-Budget Deal Fails to Cure Washington's Compulsive Spending Problem

Statement

Representative Todd Rokita (IN-04) issued the following statement after the House passed H.R. 1314, the Bipartisan Budget Act. This is a two-year budget deal that suspends the federal debt limit until March 2017 and busts the 2011 budget caps for defense and non-defense programs:

"I came to Washington to fight for policies that reduce our debt, balance our budget, and curb Washington's spending addiction. If we are going to consider raising the debt ceiling, we must include reforms that will reverse the drivers of our debt namely, reforms to Medicare, Medicaid, and other social entitlement programs.

"I will always support measures that move the ball forward. For example, my 2011 sequester vote, which helped create the discretionary spending caps this budget now busts, was one of the best votes I've ever taken in Congress. However, the legislation that the House passed today stunts our progress toward meaningful spending reform," said Rep. Rokita.

Those in favor of this deal claim we will see minor savings from Social Security Disability to be collected in the distant future. However these savings, which should be used to extend the life of the program, are spent instantly on new discretionary spending. Also, the deal removes today's spending limits and then counts savings from new spending limits that are meant to be in place ten-years from now.

"The plan essentially uses the same funds in two different places. This is not a step toward serious entitlement reform, this is Washington cooking its books. Instead of moving forward, this bill moves us backwards in our mission to advance policies that will improve the future for our children and grandchildren. I will not sell our future to pay for this year's budget" added Rep. Rokita.

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