INDIANA (WFIE) -
Indiana political leaders have responded to the Senate approved budget vote that took place early Saturday morning in Washington D.C.
In a release, Indiana Senator Joe Donnelly said, " I think we need to
cut spending and make changes to our tax code as we work our way back to a
balanced budget. The budget proposal I voted for today is not perfect, but it
is balanced: it would cut spending by nearly $1 trillion and close tax
unnecessary loopholes. Even more important, it would not balance the budget by
turning Medicare into a voucher program or by raising taxes on middle class
families."
He said, "There is no issue
greater than getting more Hoosiers back to work, so I was pleased to vote for
two important amendments during this debate, both of which passed the Senate,
to help create jobs for Hoosiers. I was joined by every Republican senator and
32 of my Democratic colleagues in voting to repeal the medical device tax,
which is inhibiting the growth of some of Indiana's most important jobs
creators. I also supported a bipartisan amendment advocating for the
construction of the Keystone Pipeline, which would create tens of thousands of
jobs and help lessen our dependence on foreign oil. I will continue focusing on
job creation when I travel across Indiana next week meeting with community
leaders to discuss how we can continue to grow our state's economy."
Donnelly concluded by saying, "Now it is time for both parties to come to the
table to make the tough choices necessary to further cut spending and move
toward a balanced budget as we aim to create a stronger country for our
children and grandchildren."
Indiana Senator Dan Coats also responded to the vote that he opposed.
In a release, Coats said, "It has been four
years since the Senate last considered a budget, but unfortunately the Senate
Democrats' plan was not worth the wait. This budget won't reduce the
out-of-control federal spending. It won't grow the economy or generate job
creation. It won't save Medicare and Social Security from going broke. It won't
pull our country back from the brink of a fiscal crisis and it won't balance
the budget."
He said, "Instead,
the Democrats' budget puts the foot on the gas pedal and drives our country
further and faster into debt. Rather than grow the economy, the Democrats' budget
grows the government at the expense of hardworking Hoosier taxpayers. The
Senate budget is an unserious plan at a time that demands serious action and
tough choices to get our fiscal house back in order."
The
Senate unanimously agreed to include one of Coats' amendments in the budget
resolution that would require the Congressional Budget Office to report
annually an estimate of the cost per taxpayer of the deficit for any year the
president's budget is projected to produce a deficit.
"I
am pleased the Senate agreed to pass my amendment that forces Washington to be
honest with the American people about the seriousness of our financial
problems," added Coats. "At a time when each child born today is saddled with
$50,000 of debt, Congress should be focused on bringing down the deficit and
growing the economy. This amendment is a good step toward transparency and
requiring the administration to outline how much it is adding to the debt."
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