Giannoulias: Washington Republicans Continue to Play Politics with Deficit Solutions
Press Release
In another example of what's wrong with Washington, congressional Republicans are standing lock-step against a bipartisan bill that would begin an honest discussion about how to rein in the skyrocketing deficit.
"Eight years of Republican economic policy got us into this mess, and now Republicans refuse to take the fiscally responsible measures necessary to clean it up," said U.S. Senate nominee Alexi Giannoulias. "I applaud President Obama's action to create a bipartisan deficit reduction commission, but he shouldn't have to do it alone. Republicans -- and even some Democrats -- continue to put politics ahead of real solutions for our nation's financial future."
In January, seven Senate Republicans had an opportunity to take action and support fiscal responsibility, but instead voted against a deficit reduction commission that would have been created by Congress. Last week, House Republicans - including Mark Kirk - voted against legislation that would restore PAYGO rules to federal budget spending.
"The concept is simple: the federal government should not spend more than it makes," Giannoulias said. "For eight years, Mark Kirk voted for every Bush budget that pushed our deficits deeper in the red, voted for a trillion dollar tax cut for the wealthy, voted for two wars without finding a way to pay for them, and voted for billions of dollars of subsidies to his friends in the pharmaceutical and big oil companies. It's time to put the taxpayer ahead of the corporate special interests."
President Obama's executive order creates an 18-member bipartisan commission that will work to reduce the deficit, and would require Congress to consider any solutions supported by 14 members - a bipartisan majority. But as of today, Republican leader Senator Mitch McConnell has not said if Senate Republicans will participate.
"Illinois families want someone who will move past the old ways of Washington," Giannoulias said. "On issues from job creation to deficit reduction, I will be a proud partner with the president to get these things done for the people of Illinois."
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