MEDIA CONTACT:
STEVEN ENGELHARDT (314) 504-4029
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MONDAY  11.21.11

STATEMENT BY CONGRESSMAN WM. LACY CLAY (D) MISSOURI ON THE FAILURE OF THE SUPERCOMMITTEE TO PRODUCE A BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT ON DEFICIT REDUCTION

NOTE: The following, in its entirety, is a first-person statement from Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri

-WASHINGTON, DC –

“I am disappointed that the supercommittee could not rise above partisan divisions and just get this done for the American people.

As I have said many times, the only responsible way to reduce the budget deficit and begin paying down the national debt is to spend less and bring in more revenue.

Democrats on the supercommittee have backed that balanced approach from the beginning. 

Unfortunately, it appears that the Republican members refused to compromise from their rigid position of protecting tax breaks for the very wealthy.

This was an opportunity to rise above our partisan differences and just do the right thing…the common sense thing, to finally get real about returning this government to fiscal responsibility.

It is possible to cut waste, reduce unneeded spending, increase revenues…and accomplish all of that without threatening Social Security and Medicare.

Congress can kick this problem down the road again, but it will come back, and it will be even harder to solve in the future.”

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