Portman speaks out on Deficit Reduction Committee outcome
Lead Summary
By
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U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) today issued the following statement on the work of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction:
“I am deeply disappointed that the Joint Select Committee could not come to an agreement on the best way to reach $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction over the next ten years. This was the chance to begin to seriously address our record debt and deficits, give the economy a shot in the arm and help regain some confidence in our representative government.
“I believe Republicans worked in good faith to find common ground, including offering new revenue as part of an agreement that included pro-growth tax reform, avoiding the risk of a massive tax increase a year from now, and significant reforms to help sustain our important entitlement programs.
"While Democrats agreed that reforms need to be made to entitlement programs, they only offered such changes in exchange for over a trillion dollars in tax increases and more stimulus spending.
“It was unfortunate that President Obama was absent during these negotiations. Instead, he made the job even harder by insisting the Select Committee pay for his new spending programs and by issuing a veto threat if the Select Committee didn’t follow the guidelines he set out.
“We failed to reach agreement because, despite good intentions on both sides, we simply couldn't bridge fundamental policy differences that reflect a broader disagreement in the Congress and country as a whole over the size and scope of government.
“With a record debt of $15 trillion and a projected debt increase over the next 10 years of between $6 and $10 trillion more, Washington continues to promise more than the nation can afford.
"While I am deeply frustrated by the outcome and believe both sides will regret this lost opportunity, I will continue to fight for spending reforms and pro-jobs policies to address our fiscal crisis and get the economy moving.”
Meanwhile, President Barack Obama said he will challenge Congress to preserve an expiring payroll tax cut on Tuesday as he travels to New Hampshire
Closer to home, Third District Rep. Mike Turner released the following statement upon word that the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction would not be delivering a plan to Congress.
Turner, who opposed raising the debt limit and slashing national security spending, continues to sound the alarm as to how this failure will impact the nation’s defense. Sequestration cuts to our defense will severely impact our armed forces and the state of Ohio:
“With the failure of the supercommittee, sequestration cuts will have serious implications for our national security. Specifically, Defense Department funding will be subject to $500 billion in cuts. As a nation we should be able to provide for our defense and balance our budget. One should not come at the expense of the other. That’s why I could not vote to raise the debt limit at the expense of our men and women in uniform.
“Furthermore the impacts to Ohio, home to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, will not be felt lightly. Across Ohio estimates show that over 1,000 uniformed service members are set to lose their jobs, while over 6,000 Defense Department civilian personnel will lose theirs.
"The problem with sequestration is although the cuts don’t become official until January of 2013, the Defense Department must begin drawing down personnel immediately in order to meet their targets by that date. Our service members, civilian personnel and their families cannot wait while Congress plays chicken with these cuts to our nation’s defense.”[[In-content Ad]]
“I am deeply disappointed that the Joint Select Committee could not come to an agreement on the best way to reach $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction over the next ten years. This was the chance to begin to seriously address our record debt and deficits, give the economy a shot in the arm and help regain some confidence in our representative government.
“I believe Republicans worked in good faith to find common ground, including offering new revenue as part of an agreement that included pro-growth tax reform, avoiding the risk of a massive tax increase a year from now, and significant reforms to help sustain our important entitlement programs.
"While Democrats agreed that reforms need to be made to entitlement programs, they only offered such changes in exchange for over a trillion dollars in tax increases and more stimulus spending.
“It was unfortunate that President Obama was absent during these negotiations. Instead, he made the job even harder by insisting the Select Committee pay for his new spending programs and by issuing a veto threat if the Select Committee didn’t follow the guidelines he set out.
“We failed to reach agreement because, despite good intentions on both sides, we simply couldn't bridge fundamental policy differences that reflect a broader disagreement in the Congress and country as a whole over the size and scope of government.
“With a record debt of $15 trillion and a projected debt increase over the next 10 years of between $6 and $10 trillion more, Washington continues to promise more than the nation can afford.
"While I am deeply frustrated by the outcome and believe both sides will regret this lost opportunity, I will continue to fight for spending reforms and pro-jobs policies to address our fiscal crisis and get the economy moving.”
Meanwhile, President Barack Obama said he will challenge Congress to preserve an expiring payroll tax cut on Tuesday as he travels to New Hampshire
Closer to home, Third District Rep. Mike Turner released the following statement upon word that the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction would not be delivering a plan to Congress.
Turner, who opposed raising the debt limit and slashing national security spending, continues to sound the alarm as to how this failure will impact the nation’s defense. Sequestration cuts to our defense will severely impact our armed forces and the state of Ohio:
“With the failure of the supercommittee, sequestration cuts will have serious implications for our national security. Specifically, Defense Department funding will be subject to $500 billion in cuts. As a nation we should be able to provide for our defense and balance our budget. One should not come at the expense of the other. That’s why I could not vote to raise the debt limit at the expense of our men and women in uniform.
“Furthermore the impacts to Ohio, home to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, will not be felt lightly. Across Ohio estimates show that over 1,000 uniformed service members are set to lose their jobs, while over 6,000 Defense Department civilian personnel will lose theirs.
"The problem with sequestration is although the cuts don’t become official until January of 2013, the Defense Department must begin drawing down personnel immediately in order to meet their targets by that date. Our service members, civilian personnel and their families cannot wait while Congress plays chicken with these cuts to our nation’s defense.”[[In-content Ad]]