GOP Spending Cuts Will Harm the Economy and Put People out of Work

Statement

Today Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen, Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, issued the following statement on the GOP's proposed spending cuts:

"I believe it is essential to address our large and unsustainable budget deficit, but we cannot do so at the expense of our economic recovery and the need to foster job growth. The immediate spending cuts proposed today by House Republicans will harm the economy and put more people out of work.

"Federal spending is currently $46 billion less than what President Obama requested for this year. Now House Republicans want to cut non-security spending by 9 percent more, with all of the cuts targeted over the final seven months of the fiscal year.

"The President's bipartisan Fiscal Commission cautioned against such immediate spending cuts, and economists like Mark Zandi have made the point that deep and immediate spending cuts proposed by Republicans could raise the unemployment rate back into double digits.

"The economy has now grown for six straight quarters, thanks in part to Democratic actions over the last two years. We cut taxes for the middle class and created over a million private sector jobs -- actions that jump-started the economy. The Republican spending cuts would undo the progress we are starting to see.

"We must tackle the deficit and put our nation on a path to long-term fiscal sustainability. But it is important to be fiscally responsible in a way that doesn't cost us jobs. The House Republicans' proposed drastic cuts in funding for the current year are a step in the wrong direction, at the wrong time."

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