To Protect Tax Cuts for Middle Class Pennsylvanians and Control Spending, Murphy Broke Ranks and Opposed the Budget

Washington, DC -- Today, Pennsylvania Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8th district) voted against the Democratic budget, saying it did not do enough to guarantee middle class tax breaks and rein in government spending. In voting against the budget, Rep. Murphy broke ranks with Democratic leaders. Murphy voted this way because he believes that more should be done to get the nation’s fiscal house in order. In this budget, non-defense discretionary spending has increased and the budget does not do enough to guarantee middle class families the tax cuts they deserve. Discretionary spending refers to the funding given to optional programs. Murphy believes we need to do everything possible to control government spending in order to cut record deficits.

“It’s time we reined in spending and reduced the burden on middle class families who face an increasing cost of living. We need to protect the tax cuts that 8th district families are counting on and we can’t leave it up to chance,” said Congressman Patrick Murphy. “We owe our children better – my daughter Maggie was born four months ago. Her share, and every American’s share of the national debt, is $29,000. I was sent here by the families back home, not by any political party and I think we can find the middle ground between being fiscally responsible and funding vital programs.”

“I did not come to this decision lightly but I voted this way because I believe that families in the 8th district of Pennsylvania deserve a fiscally sound budget that is conscious of both our present and our future,” added Murphy.

Eliminating earmarks and reinstating Pay-As-You-Go budgeting were positive steps passed earlier by this Congress. While there were many good things in this budget, Murphy voted against it because it does not go far enough to rein in spending or to guarantee tax cuts for middle class families in the 8th district. Spending in recent years has been out of control, it is time that we cut corporate farm subsidies and other non-defense discretionary spending items. By capping non-defense discretionary spending, we can start to reduce our nation’s record deficits. If we eliminate interest payments on the debt we owe to other nations we can place more of an emphasis on priorities like alternative energy, health care and education.