Hensarling Statement on the Short-term Continuing Resolution to Cut Government Spending and Keep the Government Open
WASHINGTON – House Republican Conference Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) today issued the following statement on the short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) to be passed by the House of Representatives.
“America’s spending-driven debt crisis demands serious leadership by Washington and House Republicans are again meeting the challenge head-on by proposing a two-week Continuing Resolution that will cut government spending and keep the government operating.
“This new CR will cut spending by $4 billion by eliminating programs that have already been targeted by President Obama and Democrats. It will also effectively ban earmarks, a commitment already made by both the President and House Republicans. There is no reason why Harry Reid and Democrats in the Senate should not pass this crucial bill. They must not allow the government to shutdown. They must follow our lead and put people before politics.
“Last week, the House passed H.R.1, a historic CR that would have funded the government for the rest of this fiscal year and cut spending by $100 billion, the largest spending reduction by Congress since the end of World War II. Unfortunately, Democrats in the Senate opposed the measure and instead chose to side with the status quo by proposing a short-term budget that did not include a single spending cut.
“Republicans know that the status quo is unacceptable. The Democrats’ job-destroying spending spree has already burdened the nation with two years of unprecedented trillion-dollar deficits and a record debt of $14 trillion. Last week’s anniversary of the President’s “stimulus” package reminded Americans that rampant federal spending only hurts economic growth and hinders job creation. Instead of keeping unemployment below 8 percent as Democrats promised, record-high spending gave us record-long unemployment at 9 percent or higher for 21 straight months.
“Freezing government spending at current levels is irresponsible and unacceptable. Republicans stand resolutely with the American people who voted against the status quo spending culture of Washington last November in historic proportions. We call on the Democrats to pass this new CR for the sake of growing the economy, bolstering job creation, and saving our nation from the road to bankruptcy while keeping the government functioning for Americans.”
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For additional information, contact:
House Republican Conference Press Office (conferencepress@mail.house.gov)
