Van Hollen Statement on CBO's Long-Term Budget Outlook

Statement

Today Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen, Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, released the following statement on the Congressional Budget Office's (CBO) long-term budget outlook:

"Today's report makes clear that Congress must continue the progress we've made in putting Americans back to work, rebuilding our economy, and reducing the long-term deficit. We should build on the more than $2.5 trillion we've achieved in deficit reduction since 2010 with a mix of targeted spending cuts and cuts to tax breaks for millionaires and special interests -- not the deep, immediate, indiscriminate cuts in the sequester, which the CBO says will cost up to 1.6 million fewer jobs by this time next year.

"Unfortunately, House GOP proposals will turn back the clock on that progress and damage our economic recovery. They have refused to offer a plan to replace the sequester this year, and have denied a vote on the House Democratic plan seven times. They are currently threatening to shut down the government unless we give control of Americans' health care back to the insurance industry and destroy the protections and benefits in the in the Affordable Care Act. And they continue to threaten to default on the full faith and credit of the United States, despite the fact that such an unprecedented move would wreak havoc on our economy.

"It's time for the GOP to put the needs of American families and small businesses first and work with Democrats to create jobs and get our fiscal house in order."

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