COCHRAN PROPOSES LOWER SPENDING LEVELS FOR FY2011
Congressional Desk
July 19, 2010
Republican Appropriators Seek to Reduce Federal Spending by $26 Billion in FY2011
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Saying the mounting federal debt represents an "unsustainable path" for the nation, U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, offered a plan for responsible reductions in federal discretionary spending in FY2011.
At a committee markup Thursday, Cochran offered a Republican proposal to set a $1.108 trillion top-line funding limit for discretionary spending in FY2011, which is approximately $26 billion below spending levels included in the President´s $1.134 trillion budget request.
"This country is $13 trillion in debt. We are adding to that debt at well over $1 trillion per year. We are on an unsustainable path. The budget proposal submitted by the President in February recommends policies that will increase the debt to 90 percent of our nation´s gross domestic product by 2020. It recommends policies that in only eight years would more than double the current level of debt held by the public," said Cochran, who also noted that non-defense discretionary spending has increased 24 percent over the past two years.
Republican members of the committee on Tuesday pledged to withhold support for all FY2011 appropriations bills that do not fit within a $1.108 trillion framework. This top-line funding level mirrors the FY2010 Budget Resolution assumptions for fiscal year 2011, as well as those in the Sessions-McCaskill amendment that has garnered bipartisan majority support in four separate Senate votes this year.
"Writing bills at this level will not be easy. I will still advocate for my priorities, other members will advocate for theirs, and the administration will support its own proposals. We will all have to give a little," Cochran said.
"I am under no illusion that our nation´s debt crisis can be solved by this committee alone. We must, however, be part of the solution. Our leadership is important. I would much rather this Committee—working together—write bills at a more modest spending level that has demonstrated, bipartisan support, than produce bills at a higher level only to see them pared back by crude measures late in the appropriations process," he said.
Cochran offered the plan since neither the House nor Senate has passed a budget resolution to set funding standards for FY2011. Without Republican support, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted set the FY2011 top-line funding level at $1.114 trillion.
"I greatly regret that we have not achieved consensus with regard to the appropriate level of discretionary spending. We have a fundamental difference of about overall top-line spending, which I hope can be resolved. I also hope we can find a way to enact 12 responsible appropriations bills," Cochran said.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Saying the mounting federal debt represents an "unsustainable path" for the nation, U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, offered a plan for responsible reductions in federal discretionary spending in FY2011.
At a committee markup Thursday, Cochran offered a Republican proposal to set a $1.108 trillion top-line funding limit for discretionary spending in FY2011, which is approximately $26 billion below spending levels included in the President´s $1.134 trillion budget request.
"This country is $13 trillion in debt. We are adding to that debt at well over $1 trillion per year. We are on an unsustainable path. The budget proposal submitted by the President in February recommends policies that will increase the debt to 90 percent of our nation´s gross domestic product by 2020. It recommends policies that in only eight years would more than double the current level of debt held by the public," said Cochran, who also noted that non-defense discretionary spending has increased 24 percent over the past two years.
Republican members of the committee on Tuesday pledged to withhold support for all FY2011 appropriations bills that do not fit within a $1.108 trillion framework. This top-line funding level mirrors the FY2010 Budget Resolution assumptions for fiscal year 2011, as well as those in the Sessions-McCaskill amendment that has garnered bipartisan majority support in four separate Senate votes this year.
"Writing bills at this level will not be easy. I will still advocate for my priorities, other members will advocate for theirs, and the administration will support its own proposals. We will all have to give a little," Cochran said.
"I am under no illusion that our nation´s debt crisis can be solved by this committee alone. We must, however, be part of the solution. Our leadership is important. I would much rather this Committee—working together—write bills at a more modest spending level that has demonstrated, bipartisan support, than produce bills at a higher level only to see them pared back by crude measures late in the appropriations process," he said.
Cochran offered the plan since neither the House nor Senate has passed a budget resolution to set funding standards for FY2011. Without Republican support, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted set the FY2011 top-line funding level at $1.114 trillion.
"I greatly regret that we have not achieved consensus with regard to the appropriate level of discretionary spending. We have a fundamental difference of about overall top-line spending, which I hope can be resolved. I also hope we can find a way to enact 12 responsible appropriations bills," Cochran said.
Print
Email
