Dreier Votes for Responsible Budget Alternative

April 3, 2009

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman David Dreier (R-San Dimas, CA), Rules Committee Ranking Republican, voted last night for a responsible budget alternative that would help get our economy back on track by preventing tax increases on small businesses and working families and reining in out-of-control government spending.  Dreier voted for the Republican alternative to the Democratic budget, which would raise taxes on families and job creators and allow the federal debt to double in five years and triple in ten.  The alternative failed on a vote of 137-293, while the Democratic budget resolution was approved. 233-196.

“Just as families across the Foothills are making tough choices in their own budgets, so must we in Washington,” Dreier said.  “With our economy struggling to get back on track, the last thing we should be doing is raising taxes on working families and small businesses to pay for more and more government spending.  Unfortunately, that is exactly what the Democratic budget does.  That is why I supported an alternative that would allow for responsible spending and at the same time, allow working Americans to keep more of their hard earned money.  It accomplishes all this, while keeping the national debt in a manageable context, rather than allowing it to triple over the next ten years.”

The Republican budget alternative Congressman Dreier supported would give priority to spending on defense and veterans’ health care.  It would place all other spending under a statutory spending cap backed up by tough budget enforcement.  It would also prevent massive tax increases on working families and small businesses by keeping the 2001 and 2003 tax relief in place and at the same time create a simpler, optional tax system that would allow couples to pay 10 percent on their first $100,000 in income and singles on their first $50,000, and 25 percent after that.  Additionally, the alternative plan would strengthen federal health and retirement programs by making them fiscally sustainable in the long term.