Cornyn: Budget Sets Meaningful Limits

CORNYN: BUDGET SETS MEANINGFUL LIMITS

The President's budget arrives on Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, joined Chairman Don Nickles, (R-Okla), and his colleagues on the committee Monday to receive President Bush's budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2005. The administration's fiscal blueprint is an important guideline for federal spending and policy priorities.

"The President's budget request sets meaningful limits and recognizes the priority of federal spending restraint over the next year. It is an important blueprint as we address the economic challenges of our nation," said Sen. Cornyn. "The President's request in the areas of national defense, homeland security, domestic initiatives and economic growth is necessary and responsible. But I expect one of our most difficult tasks will be to hold the line on spending and ensure that over the coming year spending does not rise beyond an already sizeable increase in federal growth."

The President's budget places particular emphasis on the goals of winning the war on terrorism abroad, providing security at home and continuing the economic growth that took root following the tax relief passed under the current administration.

"By passing an economic growth package, and committing to make tax relief permanent, we've seen a promising turnaround in our economy," said Sen. Cornyn. "Now we must continue the growth, continue to increase jobs and, perhaps the most difficult job for Congress, put the brakes on the size of government."

Cornyn continued, "The administration is committed to reducing the deficit by half in the next five years. I'm encouraged by this goal, but I realize that we must also continue to slow the seemingly insatiable appetite of some in Congress to spend the taxpayers' dollars at an unsustainable rate."