Unfortunately, the Senate continued with this poor prioritization of our Nation's budget by raising the debt ceiling to nearly $9 trillion while refusing to enact common-sense fiscal reform in Pay-As-You-Go legislation (PAYGO). It failed on a 50-50 vote and would have forced Congress to be able to pay for what it spends. Congress needs to identify offsets for new spending programs and commit to no more tax cuts that benefit only the wealthiest Americans.

This week, I offered and supported amendments to the Senate Budge Resolution that would reprioritize our Nation’s spending. I offered amendments that would prioritize our veterans’ benefits, fully fund payments in lieu of taxes (or PILT) for our rural communities, provide $100 million in funds to directly benefit local parks and recreation projects through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), increase funding for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and fund interoperable communications for our homeland security defenses, all paid for by reducing administrative spending across federal agencies. Some of these amendments passed and some of them failed but they represent the fact that we cannot continue to reduce our budget and spend more without reprioritizing our spending.

The Administration is considering reducing compensation payments promised to Cold War-era Rocky Flats workers. Last week I joined Congressman Mark Udall in writing to the Administration to stop this shameful plan. Our Cold War-era heroes, whether from Rocky Flats or elsewhere, deserve better.

Smaller harvests as a result of drought and other natural disasters, lower prices, and higher fuel costs are causing our agricultural producers to ‘wither on the vine.’ I along with a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues last week introduced the “Emergency Agricultural Disaster Assistance Act of 2006,” which would provide immediate relief to farmers and ranchers suffering from these ongoing losses. This legislation won’t remedy the neglect our rural communities have received from this Administration but it will provide some much needed aid so they survive these impacts.

Washington’s fiscal and budgetary priorities are out of whack. Our Federal deficit is being financed by foreign governments and companies and on the backs of our children and grandchildren. Since January 2001, the federal debt has increased 53 percent. And during that same time the amount of U.S. public debt held by foreigners has increased 120 percent, from approximately $1 trillion in January 2001 to approximately $2.2 trillion in January 2006.

Whether through initiating Pay-As-You-Go spending, reconsidering tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans or reducing administrative spending in federal agencies, Washington must reprioritize its spending. With discipline we can do it. I look forward to working with my Democratic and Republican colleagues to achieve that goal.

Sincerely,

Ken Salazar
U.S. Senator

Sen. Salazar continues bipartisan efforts on homeland security and land and water

Sen. Salazar statement on nomination of Gov. Kempthorne to be Secretary of the Interior

Sens. Allard, Salazar pass amendment to fully fund PILT/Sends message Senate supportive of program

Sen. Salazar works for disaster relief for farmers, ranchers and rural communities

Sen. Salazar votes against new record federal debt of $9T

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Greetings from U.S Senator Ken Salazar Working for Colorado

  

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