Herb Kohl: “I support this budget resolution. It contains real and significant cuts in appropriated spending. It does not raise…”

“I support this budget resolution. It contains real and significant cuts in appropriated spending. It does not raise taxes. It is responsible and thoughtful. However, the resolution has one major flaw, in my view. It does nothing to address entitlement spending. Entitlements comprise over 50 percent of all Government spending and are growing at a rate faster than inflation--while non-entitlement spending is actually shrinking. Controlling entitlements is key to controlling the deficit. Because we have not addressed entitlements, the deficits projected by this budget increase from $174 billion in fiscal year 1995 to $192 billion in fiscal year 1999. Deficits won't go down until all spending goes down. To achieve this deficit reduction, we must reform the way in which Congress addresses entitlements. I understand that we cannot change budget rules on this resolution, but I want to make the point that what we need is a change in the way this body does business. Currently, our budget rules require us to pay as you go for entitlement spending. That is, any change in law that increases entitlement spending must be offset 100 percent. Clearly, that system is not good enough. It offers no incentive to cut back entitlement programs. It allows them to continue to grow with inflation, population increases, and spiralling health care costs. I propose that we trade pay as you go for save as you go.”