Sen. McConnell Remarks Before the Senate Appropriations Committee

Statement

U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks (as prepared) Thursday during the Senate Appropriations markup of FY'11 spending bills:

"Uncontrolled spending continues to be a top concern for my constituents. As Americans tighten their belts, they're frustrated that Congress does not follow their lead and instead continues at every opportunity to INCREASE spending.

"This year, the Democrats failed to produce a budget, so today this committee will be deciding how much discretionary money they wish to spend this year.

"During the last few years discretionary spending has increased enormously. Since President Obama has been in office, non-defense discretionary funding has increased 24%.

"If you include stimulus funding, that figure is as high as an 84% increase -- an 84% increase in less than two years.

"In light of our $13 trillion debt, trillion-dollar deficits as far the eye can see, and the overwhelming desire of the American people to have us stop spending money we don't have, I will oppose the Chairman's proposed spending levels for Fiscal Year 2011 as well as any Appropriations bills that do not, at a minimum, adhere to a plan to essentially freeze spending.

"I support Senator Cochran's proposal, which adopts the top-line discretionary number from the bipartisan Sessions-McCaskill amendment. It's based on what Democrats previously committed, through their budget last year, to spend this year. It has broad bipartisan support; 59 members voted for it, including 18 Democrats. After 2 years of massive increases, we should at the very least freeze spending at current levels.

"We need to change course. We need to rein in spending. And, as appropriators we should lead by example. Supporting this bipartisan approach is a reasonable, initial step to curb spending.

"I regret that the Majority -- through its refusal to even consider a budget resolution this year - has placed the Chairman in this awkward position, essentially forcing him to choose a number that the whole Senate should have determined through an open debate on the floor.

"I hope he and other members across the aisle will adopt the Sessions/McCaskill top line spending level to be offered by Senator Cochran."

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