Calls For Fiscal Restraint

Washington, D.C. –U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (FL-13) voted last night against more deficit spending. Buchanan voted against a continuing resolution that continues to fund the federal government at last year’s level and called instead for spending cuts back to 2008 levels.

“We can’t afford the same kind of out of control spending that has led to record deficits and threatens our economic recovery,” said Buchanan. “Instead of continuing at last year’s record spending levels, let’s turn back the clock to before the bailouts and the stimulus and make the cuts necessary to reduce the deficit.”

In fiscal year 2010, the federal government is expected to have spent nearly $3.5 trillion but receive $2.1 trillion in revenue, creating a $1.3 trillion deficit. Buchanan noted that cutting spending levels for fiscal year 2011 back to 2008 levels would save about $100 billion.

The current fiscal year ends today. Meanwhile, Congress has failed to enact any of the 12 appropriations bills necessary to fund federal programs in fiscal year 2011. Instead, they brought to the floor at the last minute a bill to continue federal funding at last year’s levels until after the November elections.

“Instead of making the tough decisions now, they have kicked the can down the road until after the election,” said Buchanan. “Unfortunately, it is business as usual. Neither party has done enough to control spending.”

The first bill Congressman Buchanan introduced in 2007 was a Balanced Budget Amendment to require the federal government to stop spending more than it takes in.