Sessions: House Democrats' Budget is Blueprint for Higher Taxes, More Spending. Budget Plan Calls for the Largest Tax Increase in History.
Washington, DC – U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions (R-Dallas), a former Member of the House Committee on the Budget, released the following statement in response to the fiscal year (FY) 2009 federal budget being considered by the Budget Committee today:
“The Democrats’ budget proposal represents a fiscal roadmap to ruin, calling for the same failed tax-and-spend policies that have already increased the federal deficit and threatened our nation’s economy.
“In an effort to satisfy their insatiable appetite for more government spending, House Democrats plan to increase spending by nearly $300 billion above the President’s budget request and create 16 reserve funds—mechanisms for additional tax and spending increases outside budget levels.
“To finance this runaway spending, the Democrats’ fiscally-irresponsible blueprint calls for the largest tax increase in history—a $683 billion tax increase balanced on the backs of individuals, families, small businesses and employers. At a time of escalating energy costs, health care expenses, and economic uncertainty, the Majority Party plans to increase the tax burden on 116 million taxpayers by an average of $1,833.
“Like last year, the Democrat’s budget proposal provides no meaningful entitlement reform. As the Medicare trustees’ recent warning confirms, entitlement costs are spiraling out of control, and Congress has the responsibility to reform and strengthen important programs such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid to ensure their viability for future generations. The Majority Party seems to think that ignoring the entitlement crisis will make it go away. But the truth is that future generations will bear the brunt of their fiscal folly.
“The key to balancing the budget is implementing pro-growth, tax-relief policies along with spending restraint—not raising taxes so that the government can spend more of taxpayers’ money. In the coming days, my Republican colleagues and I will work together to offer a fiscally-responsible budget plan that cuts wasteful spending, reduces the tax burden on Americans, and responsibly reforms entitlement programs for future generations.”