Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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On April 15, Congress voted on a revolutionary budget that will truly reform the spending habits
of Washington, DC. I was pleased to support this budget because it was a departure from the
decades-long spendingparty, paid for by our nation's credit card.
This budget plan, offered by House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan, will cut our national debt by
trillions of dollars. In my first four months in Congress, I have voted to cut more spending than
any Congress since World War II. Yet, $2 billion per week, and then most recently $a0 billion
in cuts for the 2011 "Continuing Resolution," were not enough to change the trajectory of DC's
habitual overspending. Our national debt is a drag on businesses and jobs, our position in the
global economy, our national defense--even our ability to live up to our Constitutional duties.
For the first time in a long time, Congress passed a fact-based plan that no longer kicks the can
down the road in terms on difficult decisions that must be made. Further, it will put us on a path
of national spending that focuses on the right priorities while instructing the federal government
to live within its means. Here's what this budget plan does:
Repeals and Defunds Obamacare: I have been a strong advocate for patient-centered
hralth care sc!'.rtions, and this budget plan a,-1.vances those solutions while taking away
last year's ill-conceived health care overhaul.
Cuts spending, changes DC's culture of debt: This is an honest budget that no longer
obligates money we don't have to programs that don't work. It locks in spending cuts
with spending controls, and puts the US on a path that allows it to pay off its debt.
Reforms the tax system: This budget plan eliminates the $800 billion in tax increases
that accotnpany last year's health care overhaul. In addition, it simplifies the tax system
for businesses, families and individuals. It lowers the top tax rate to 25Yo. It also
requires that loopholes be closed so that large corporations cannot get away without
paying their fair share of taxes.
Ends Wall Street bailouts, reforms Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: American
taxpayers would no longer be on the hook to bail out large companies, and we will finally
reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Saves Medicare: The facts show that we must act to save Medicare. According to the
nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, Medicare will be bankrupt by 2020 if we do
not act. This plan stabilizes the program in a way that doesn't disrupt Medicare in any
way for those 55 and older, and offers future beneficiaries the same kind of health-care
options now enjoyed by members of Congress (Medicare Premium Support).
This budget plan is not business as usual. But the option of not addressing the spending problem
would be disastrous for every American. It is time that Congress faces up to the difficult
decisions that need to be made to keep America a prosperous nation, and out from under the
thumb of crushins national debt.
Sincerely,
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Jaime Herrera Beutler
Member of Congress