(WASHINGTON, D.C.) -- U.S. Congressman Jason Altmire (PA-04) today released the following statement after voting for the FY 2010 House Budget Resolution, which passed by a vote of 233-196. This budget will cut the deficit by two-thirds over the next five years and cut taxes for middle-class families by nearly $1.5 trillion. The budget also extends the expiring 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts for families making less than $250,000 a year.
“The budget I voted for today is a true accounting of the financial condition of our country. It makes the difficult choices that are required to get our economy back on track. Unlike the budgets of previous Congresses, this is an honest budget that does not use gimmicks to hide bad news.
“This budget puts America back on the path to fiscal responsibility. It reduces our nation’s deficit by two-thirds over the next five years, cuts taxes for middle class families, and for the first time, includes comprehensive reform of the key issues that are driving our nation’s deficit and that have been left out of previous budgets: health care, energy and education. We will never be able to reign in costs and balance our budget unless we make health care more affordable, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and improve America’s schools to make us more competitive in the global economy.
“I am proud that this budget provides the VA with its largest funding increase in history to ensure that our veterans receive the highest quality health care and all the benefits they have earned. Because of this budget, 500,000 Priority Group 8 veterans who previously were unable to get health care from the VA will now be able to do so.”
This budget is significantly different from the budget President Obama submitted to Congress earlier this year. The House’s budget is more aggressive in reducing the deficit, spends less, rejects additional bailout funding for Wall Street, and removes the controversial “Cap and Trade” and tax provisions contained in the Obama budget.
