WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) today commended President Obama for presenting a budget to Congress that represents an honest assessment of our financial situation and focuses on job creation and economic growth.

“This budget does exactly what we need it to do right now, takes the steps to help the economy recover, creates jobs and helps get Americans back to work,” said Rep. Kind.  “I’m pleased that the President’s budget extends access to credit for small businesses and makes efforts to open markets for American goods and services.  Investments in science, technology and industry will help us lay a foundation for growth and create the jobs of the future.  And funding for education will help our children learn the skills they need to succeed in a 21st century economy.”

 “At the same time we make these investments, we must be fiscally responsible.  I want to thank the President for establishing a bipartisan fiscal commission, something I have called for, to help us reign in the deficit over the long-term.  I learned well from Senator Proxmire that there it too much waste, fraud and abuse in the budget and that we need to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars so we don’t pass on a crippling debt to our children and grandchildren.”

Rep. Kind also commended the Administration for keeping its pledge to reduce wasteful agriculture subsidies.  The budget calls for a phase down of payments by reducing the income cap of $750,000 down to $500,000 saving $860 million over five years and $2.2 billion over 10 years.  It also calls for a reduction on the cap on the Direct Payment program from $40,000 to $30,000, eliminating wasteful spending.

“I am encouraged that President Obama has held true to his pledge to root out waste in agriculture programs,” said Rep. Kind.  “These commonsense reforms will reduce taxpayer subsidies to large agribusinesses and wealthy individuals while still maintaining a vital safety net for farmers during these tough economic times.”