Washington, DC -- Rep. Engel - The Republicans insist on arbitrarily cutting the budget in the mistaken belief this will magically boost the economy. I cannot support this agreement because $39 billion in cuts is too deep.  Well, I don’t believe in the tooth fairy, and I don’t believe in magic either. They give no factual basis that these cuts will do anything but harm the economy. Coming at a time when our economy is so fragile, cuts of this magnitude will have an adverse effect on job creation.

We didn’t get into this deficit hole overnight, and it’s wrong to think we can get out of it just as quickly.  In the 12 years they controlled the Congress, six of which they also controlled the Presidency, they ran up massive deficits with huge tax breaks for corporations and the wealthiest Americans.  Today, they have reversed course and become born-again deficit hawks.  We must work together to get out of the hole that both parties dug us into.  No one can take a "no compromise" approach to fixing our fiscal problems.  I understand that, and want to work together to get it done.

But tonight’s spending bill slashes too much without taking into account the harm this will do to our fragile recovery, to the middle class, to working people, and to our neediest citizens. I cannot support such a measure. While it is beneficial to avoid a government shutdown, a deal for the sake of making a deal is often a bad one. The one good thing about this agreement is that it includes provisions to pay our military and their families. They make many sacrifices for their country, this should not be one of them.

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