Washington, DC (March 29, 2006) – Today, Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15) released the following statement in response to the passage of a Fiscal Year 2008 budget resolution in the House of Representatives:

“Today, the House of Representatives approved a budget that puts our nation on a path toward fiscal responsibility.  The Democrats have come up with a responsible budget that will enable Congress to follow through on a new set of priorities. 

“This comes in stark contrast to the past seven years during which the Republicans dug a fiscal hole that burdened our children with an enormous debt to repay.  What’s more, the Republican-led Congress refused to pay the bills last year, demonstrating recklessness by failing to pass nine appropriations bills needed to run our government. Quite frankly, if you can’t budget, you can’t govern. Today we finally have the opportunity to pay the bills and take America in a new direction.

“We have passed a budget that will benefit not just wealthy Americans but all Americans, including the middle class, veterans, students, and seniors.  It includes more funding for critical initiatives such as health care, education, and homeland security. It makes sure that we stay within our means and balance the budget by 2012 without raising taxes—and that we do so one year ahead of the President’s proposed budget. 

“For too long our nation’s education priorities have been out of step with the needs of our students and teachers. Finally we have a plan that moves America closer toward the goal of truly leaving no child behind. This budget rejects the President’s proposal to cut $1.5 billion below the 2007 level from the Department of Education and to eliminate dozens of worthy programs. This plan instead invests in our nation’s future by increasing funding for critical programs such as Head Start, No Child Left Behind, special education, and Pell Grants. It proves that the new Majority is serious about improving the livelihoods of America’s children and investing in our country’s competitiveness.

“Currently, millions of our hardworking men and women go to bed each night in fear of a child becoming unexpectedly sick or injured. In Texas alone, 1.4 million children, or 20 percent of the state’s population, are living without health insurance. This is unacceptable. The Democratic budget accommodates an increase of $50 billion so that millions of children will not have to forego medical care. Once again, we intend to put America’s children first.

“By rejecting the President’s proposal to cut first responder programs, this budget also upholds our obligation to effectively secure and respond to our country’s most immediate security concerns. In addition, it upholds our commitment to America’s veterans by boosting funding for health care and services by $5.4 billion above current services. Our veterans, who have so bravely defended our country, deserve to have access to quality health care, including mental health and traumatic injury treatments funded under this budget.

“My Republican counterparts argue that this is a tax hike on Americans. I beg to differ — the Democratic majority has come up with a responsible budget that restores critical programs, imposes fiscal responsibility, and outlines a plan to begin to balance the budget without raising taxes. It will enable Congress to move forward and answer American voters’ call for a new direction.”