The Blue Dog 12-Step Reform Plan is more comprehensive and responsible than the meager attempt at reform contained in the president’s budget and other reform plans being discussed in Congress.  The national debt has soared over $2 trillion under the watch of the current administration, with trillions more projected in the next 10 years under current policies.  The 12 Step Reform Plan is based on the Blue Dogs’ commitment to solving growing fiscal problems facing our country.

“The Blue Dog plan is the most significant package of reforms ever introduced and these are long-overdue, common-sense reforms that will help Congress get to a balanced budget,” said Rep. Jim Cooper (TN), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Policy.  “President Bush and a Republican Congress have just saddled the nation with the three largest deficits in American history.  We must stop this runaway train of deficit spending before it is too late.  These reforms will help us stop it.”

"Our budget situation is so bad we need to reform the way the government spends taxpayer dollars.  These common-sense budget enforcement rules would be the first step to get the federal government back on the road to fiscal soundness,” stated Blue Dog Rep. John Tanner (TN).  “The administration and Congress need to work together to establish spending caps and pay-as-you-go rules, which will force the federal government to live within its means."

The Blue Dog 12-Step Budget Reform is composed of 12 vital steps to getting our nation’s fiscal house back in order.  A more detailed outline of the 12-steps is included with this release:   

1)      Require a balanced Budget

2)      Don’t let Congress buy on credit – Pay as you go

3)      Put a lid on spending

4)      Require federal agencies to put their fiscal houses in order

5)      Make Congress tell taxpayers how much they’re spending

6)      Set aside a rainy-day fund

7)      Don’t hide votes to raise the debt limit

8)      Justify spending for pet projects

9)      Ensure that Congress reads the bills it’s voting on

10)  Require honest cost estimates for every bill that Congress votes on

11)  Make sure new bills fit the budget

12)  Make Congress do a better job keeping tabs on government programs

“It is immoral for us to continue spending like drunken sailors, with no plan on how we will dig ourselves out of this deficit disaster.  The answer is not to keep raising the debt ceiling. The answer is not to guarantee higher taxes on generations yet unborn,” said Rep. Jim Matheson (UT), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Administration.  “As Blue Dogs, we encourage congressional leaders to sober up back here and work together—across party lines—to restore fiscal sanity.”

“What comes as common sense to American families and business owners, doesn’t come that easily to members of Congress and especially this administration.  What family or business owner doesn’t know to balance their budget, doesn’t make sure they can pay for things before they buy them, doesn’t set a side a little money for a rainy day,” asked Rep. Dennis Cardoza (CA), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications?  “The Blue Dog 12-step reform plan injects a little common sense into the way Congress and the administration does business.”   

“The Blue Dog’s 12-point budget plan promotes fiscally responsible budget reforms, including the support of a constitutional amendment that would require the federal budget to be balanced every year,” said Rep. Mike Ross (AR), Blue Dog Whip.  “American families strive every month to live on a balanced budget at home, and I don’t think it’s asking too much to hold the government to these same standards.” 

The Blue Dogs are a group of 35 moderate and conservative Democrats whose attention to fiscal discipline has won them praise from magazine and newspaper editorials around the country.