Washington, D.C. – Today, the Senate voted against enacting a budget to fund government for the remainder of FY 2011, rejecting both House and Senate budget proposals.  Congressman Berg issued the following statement regarding the Senate votes on the Continuing Resolution:

“After stalling for three weeks, the Senate has again failed to enact a budget measure for the remainder of this fiscal year,” Congressman Berg stated. “Not only have Senate Democrats refused to provide American families and businesses this much-needed certainty and stability, but have offered their own misguided plan that will do little to create jobs or reduce the record deficit our nation faces.  Families have tightened their belts—why can’t Washington to do the same?”

Three weeks ago, the House sent a Continuing Resolution to the Senate that would reduce current spending levels by more than $60 billion—a $100 billion reduction from President Obama’s proposed budget.  The Senate did not address this budget measure until today, when a proposal from Senate Democrat leadership was also considered.

The Senate proposal has been cited as reducing current spending levels by only $6 billion—a $51 billion cut from the President’s proposed budget.  However, The Congressional Budget Office recently found that the Senate Democrats’ proposal would reduce only $4.7 billion from current spending over the next seven months—just enough to cover one day of deficit spending and just slightly more than the $4 billion reduced over two-weeks by the House’s short-term Continuing Resolution passed last week.

Rep. Berg is one of two freshman members of Congress serving on the House Ways and Means Committee.  He was also selected to serve on the Subcommittees for Select Revenue Measures, Human Resources, and Social Security.

###