Baron P. Hill: “for many years, people in Washington, Democrats and Republicans, have not been writing budgets that use real numbers.…”

“for many years, people in Washington, Democrats and Republicans, have not been writing budgets that use real numbers. The majority's budget we are considering today is more of the same old song and dance, spend money the government does not have and make promises Congress cannot keep. The budget we are asked to vote on today sets spending levels that we all know will not address our national priorities and forces us to take money from Social Security and increase the national debt. I am a fiscal conservative Democrat who believes we should write a budget that uses real numbers and makes promises Congress can actually keep. The Blue Dog budget does this. It proves we can write a realistic budget that addresses the national priorities both parties share. For example, the Blue Dog proposal makes a serious commitment to our national defense and to the men and women who serve in the military. It provides $15 billion more than the Republicans do and the administration's plan and $10 billion for veterans. The Blue Dog budget also calls for a $40 billion tax relief. The American people need it, and we can afford this. It gives families, farms, and small business owners much needed tax relief but within a framework of fiscal responsibility. The organizing principle behind this Blue Dog budget is restoring fiscal responsibility to a government that has been spending more than it has taken in over the years.”