Budget
I believe that growing the economy will require getting our unsustainable debt and deficit problem under control. However, deficit reduction has to be done in a sustainable and responsible way, which is why I oppose severe, across-the-board cuts through sequestration. Instead, we must reform our outdated tax code to make it fairer and more competitive; implement smart reforms to entitlement programs, without unjustly harming beneficiaries; take a long-term look at our defense spending; and target government waste, fraud and abuse.
I was proud to support the fiscal year 2016 Democratic Budget, which would reduce the debt by $1.3 trillion over the next ten years, stabilizing our debt at a sustainable level without the need for drastic cuts to domestic programs or substantial increases in tax revenue. I’ve also introduced legislation to close egregious tax loopholes; reduce tens of millions in wasteful defense spending; provide taxpayers with new tools to track how their money is being spent by the federal government; and improve the federal budget process.
Congress also needs to end the irresponsible practice of crisis-to-crisis governing and begin passing long-term budgets so that federal agencies and businesses have reliable and predictable funding. This allows them to operate as effectively and efficiently as possible, and plan out years in advance as opposed to only a few months on a temporary budget. If agencies are unsure that funding will be available in the future, they will freeze hiring and training, shorten terms for grants and contracts, and delay the start of new projects. I’m confident that as long as we can put partisan politics aside, we can get back to passing long-term budgets under regular order.
Rep. Mike Quigley supported President Obama’s 2017 Fiscal Year budget.
Rep. Mike Quigley wrote an opinion piece in The Hill explaining his disappointment in the so-called “pro-life protections” of the omnibus.
Rep. Mike Quigley urged his colleagues on the House floor to pass a clean omnibus package free of harmful policy riders.
More on Budget
Sep 29, 2016
Press Release
U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement after House passage of a continuing resolution to fund the government through December 9, 2016
Jul 28, 2016
Editorials
When I was sworn in to Congress in April of 2009, we were at the height of the worst economic recession since the Great Depression. Unemployment shot up to 10 percent, median household wealth plummeted by almost 40 percent and nearly five million homeowners lost their homes to foreclosure. Fortunately, we’ve come a long way since 2009.
Jun 16, 2016
Press Release
U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, offered an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2017 Defense Appropriations bill that reprioritizes funding that will be used to develop the nuclear capable Long Range Standoff weapon and instead use that funding to reduce the United States’ unsustainable debt and deficits. Rep. Quigley’s remarks on the House Floor during debate of his amendment are available here. The amendment was defeated on a vote of 159-261.
Jun 9, 2016
Press Release
U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) released the following statement in support of bipartisan H.R. 5278, Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA):
Apr 20, 2016
Press Release
U.S. Reps. Mike Quigley and Rep. Earl Blumenauer hosted a briefing about the current state of U.S. nuclear weapons policy and the need to reprioritize nuclear weapons funding via careful planning and preparation that reflects the current security and budgetary environments.