CONGRESSMAN BUDGET: "2007 BUDGET IS IRRESPONSIBLE SPENDING"

Salazar Calls for Budget that Fits Rural Colorado's Priorities

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Salazar last night voted against the FY2007 Budget Resolution, which passed by a slim margin of 218-210.  The $2.8 trillion budget plan would freeze non-defense spending at current levels and force authorization Committees, like Ways and Means and Education and the Workforce, to cut an additional $6.8 billion from mandatory spending programs over the next 5 years.  Earlier on the floor, Congressman Salazar focused on how this budget will increase our deficit and hurt families in rural America. 

“As a fiscal conservative, I could not in good conscience support a budget resolution that will lead us further into debt.  Not only does this plan fail to balance the budget, it hides the true picture by not calculating in the costs of our presence in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

“In a time when rural America is suffering – I have read farmers are now paying 113 percent more for fuel and the average family income has dropped by 2.3 percent – it is irresponsible to cut programs meant to help working families.  From education to healthcare to the environment, this budget fails America on issue after issue.  

“Now some may see this budget as good for America but I honestly don’t see how anyone could dare make that argument.  The Congressional Leadership had to schedule a vote on this budget three separate times because its own membership did not believe this is the right budget for America.  America can do better – we can do better.”