Co-chairs of the fiscally conservative, Democratic Blue Dog Coalition—Reps. Kurt Schrader (D-OR), Jim Cooper (D-TN), John Barrow (D-GA) and Jim Matheson (D-UT)—today sent a letter to House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) reaffirming the Coalition’s commitment to tackling our nation’s long-term debt and deficit problems and offering support for a comprehensive budget solution.
“Congress cannot continue to approach long-term deficit reduction in piecemeal fashion,” the letter read. “We simply must stop living from crisis to crisis. It is no way for a superpower to govern and continues to cause permanent economic damage to our country.
“Blue Dogs are committed to working with our leaders to end the government shutdown and prevent defaulting on our nation’s debt for the first time in history.
“The Blue Dog Coalition has long supported and continues to support comprehensive budget reform that includes consideration of all options for mandatory and discretionary spending and revenues. The time is now to heed our call to action and attack our nation’s larger debt and deficit problems head on.
“The national debt is quickly approaching $17 trillion, and budget reform is needed to strengthen our immediate economic recovery. We have to get serious about our national debt, and we stand ready to work with you on bipartisan solutions.
“It’s time for governing, not gridlock. Let’s seize this opportunity to break this unhealthy cycle.”
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