Congressman Connie Mack (FL-14), a member of the House Budget Committee, issued the following statement today regarding the President’s budget for fiscal year 2008.

Mack said:

“Yesterday, the President released his fiscal blueprint for the nation, and now it’s Congress’ turn to examine that blueprint and to appropriately fund our national priorities.

“I applaud the President’s desire to balance the federal budget in the next five years without raising taxes. I also agree that the tax cuts that have fueled our nation’s economic growth must be made permanent. Our children and grandchildren deserve nothing less than a future free of excessive taxation and runaway deficits and debts.

“However, at $2.9 trillion, I’m concerned about the total price tag of this budget proposal. I have said time and again that Washington doesn’t have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem. We need a new era of fiscal discipline in Washington, and that starts by making sure we provide and improve the key services people need but at a price we can afford.

“In addition, as I work with my colleagues to meet our nation’s priorities, I’ll be looking carefully to ensure the needs of Southwest Florida are adequately funded. That includes protecting our fragile environment and making certain our fast-growing community has the resources to remain a great place to live, work and visit for generations to come.”

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