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Klobuchar Sponsors New Bipartisan Fiscal Task Force Legislation to Confront Nation's Budget Crisis

December 9, 2009

Washington, DC – Today U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar joined Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND) and Ranking Member Judd Gregg (R-NH) to announce legislation aimed at addressing the nation’s long-term budget crisis. The Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action Act of 2009 would establish a bipartisan commission of members of Congress and Administration officials who would make recommendations for substantial improvements to the government’s long-term fiscal imbalances. 

“We have already seen what happens to our economy when Wall Street is fiscally irresponsible.  We cannot let our federal government do the same thing,” said Klobuchar.  “We need to change the way Washington works when it comes to our long-term fiscal outlook.  This is not about being a Democrat, a Republican or an Independent.  The Bipartisan Fiscal Task Force is about trying to get something done to stop unsustainable spending and restore our financial stability.”

The bill establishes an 18-member task force comprised of ten Democrats and eight Republicans.  The panel would have bipartisan co-chairs.  It would consist primarily of currently serving members of Congress selected by Democratic and Republican Congressional leaders, plus the Treasury Secretary and one other administration official selected by the President.  This means that the task force members would be directly accountable to the American people, and bipartisan leadership at the highest levels of the government would be responsible for the panel’s outcome.

The task force would review all aspects of the current and long-term financial conditions of the federal government.  Upon approval by the task force, recommendations would be submitted to the Congress after the 2010 elections and would be considered by Congress through an expedited process.

Importantly, the task force would take action on a bipartisan basis.  Broad bipartisan agreement would be required to move anything forward.  Fourteen of the 18 task force members would have to agree to report the recommendations.  And final passage would require supermajorities in both the Senate and House. 

Klobuchar joined 24 original cosponsors to introduce The Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action Act of 2009.  The other original cosponsors included: 

Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN)                                 Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO)                      Senator Robert Bennett (R-UT)
Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND)                      Senator Christopher Bond (R-MO)
Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS)                      Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-CT)           
Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)                     Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO)              
Senator Bob Corker (R-TN)                              Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE)                        
Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID)                            Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL)                            
Senator John Ensign (R-NV)                         Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)             
Senator Michael Enzi (R-WY)                       Senator Mark Udall (D-CO)                         
Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA)                       Senator Mark Warner (D-VA)    
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)             Senator Mike Johanns (R-NE)
Senator George LeMieux (R-FL)             Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND)
Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH)                    Senator George Voinovich (R-OH) 

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