Washington, DC –U.S. Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee), member of the House Budget Committee, made the following statement after the President’s deficit commission released its report today:

“We can all agree that we need to get a handle on our nation’s debt and deficit problems.  And I come to the table with an open mind because we will all need to sacrifice.  We’re all going to have to stomach some changes that we don’t like.  This is the beginning of a needed discussion, and it will be a long process.

“The question remains – who has to carry the burden?  Working families have been squeezed through this recession and some austerity measures threaten to squeeze them even further.  But they just can’t be squeezed any more.  Furthermore, our economy can’t afford that right now either.

“As Congress debates extending tax cuts for millionaires, it’s important to remember that those tax cuts and unpaid-for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan obliterated a budget surplus just a decade ago.  It was then, and it is now, all about priorities. 

“I’m concerned about consequences of many of the proposed cuts on working families, seniors, and women and children.  I’m concerned how certain tax increases – like the gas tax – will hurt those who were already having trouble filling up their cars.  And I’m greatly concerned that it appears the proposal drastically cuts taxes for millionaires.  I’m heartened to see that the commission looked at cutting unnecessary military spending and included a proposal to limit war-time spending.

“As I study the commission’s report in further detail, as well as alternative proposals by colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I will work to make sure that working families, seniors and children don’t carry the burden of fixing our nation’s debt and deficit problems because they had no role in creating them.”

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