Leonard L. Boswell: “during the initial stages of the drafting of the Budget Enforcement Act I was supportive of the concept. Unfortunately…”

“during the initial stages of the drafting of the Budget Enforcement Act I was supportive of the concept. Unfortunately, today I cannot support the final version of the act. I do however continue my strong support to the concept of enforcing the parameters agreed to in the budget reconciliation. I regret that I cannot support this legislation I had signed as a cosponsor. Sometimes in the legislative process the devil is in the details. Careful examination of the bill's language revealed the potential of severe reductions to vital programs for Iowans. Tax reductions and spending cuts to programs such as veterans benefits, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid could be mandated without the matter being brought to a vote in Congress. In this case as the details of the bill came to the surface and were not allowed to be corrected, it became apparent I could not support this legislation in its final form. The people of Iowa sent me here to Washington to bring our Nation's fiscal house in order and I am working toward that end everyday.”