Jay Rockefeller: “I have made the decision to vote in favor of the budget resolution before us to achieve a balanced budget and invest in…”

“I have made the decision to vote in favor of the budget resolution before us to achieve a balanced budget and invest in key priorities for the country. This is not a vote to claim that this budget plan is perfect or a replica of the specific way I would best like to see the budget balanced and my own State's needs addressed. However, as a result of President Clinton working with Congress to reach this agreement, this plan represents a responsible course for completing the job of deficit reduction and launching essential steps for our future. This budget plan is also a victory against the dangerous and reckless efforts we have seen over the past 2 years in the name of balancing the budget, reforming Medicare, and other attractive but misleading labels. I am extremely proud and now relieved that some of us succeeded in defeating the extreme cuts proposed in the budget plans offered by Republicans that would have done such grave damage to Medicare, education, infrastructure, and other priorities. The Republican plans literally raided Medicare to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy, and would have put crushing burdens on working families and our communities that were totally unnecessary and wrong. This budget plan now before us is possible because of the tough choices and hard work done by President Clinton, with the sole help of Democrats and not a single Republican vote, in 1993 to enact a historic package of deficit reduction and economic growth measures.”