WASHINGTON — Rep. Dan Boren attended a White House event about fiscal discipline on Tuesday, but said later he was "as skeptical as the next person” that the goal would be seriously pursued.
Boren, D-Muskogee, was among the lawmakers invited to hear President Barack Obama’s call for "pay-as-you-go” legislation requiring any new spending to be offset with cuts or tax increases.
"Paying for what you spend is basic common sense,” Obama said.
"Perhaps that’s why, here in Washington, it’s been so elusive.”
House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio scoffed at Obama’s proposal, saying, "Time after time this year, Democrats have ignored calls for fiscal responsibility and added more than a trillion dollars to our deficit — all of which will be paid by working families and their kids and grandkids.”
But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the so-called "paygo” rule pushed through by Democrats and followed by former President Bill Clinton led to four years of budget surpluses. She said Republicans abandoned the rule when former President George W. Bush was in office and surpluses collapsed into deficits.
Boren, a member of a conservative bloc of Democrats called the Blue Dogs, supports the rule, which is currently part of the budgeting process but is easily ignored, since it’s not law. And he praised Obama for embracing it.
"I’d like to see that backed up by action,” Boren said. "But we’ll see. I’m as skeptical as the next person.”
Boren said his biggest concern is that lawmakers will look to tax hikes rather than spending cuts to enforce the rule.
Obama said the government needs to pay for increases in entitlement spending and tax cuts.
"They’re not free, and borrowing to finance them is not a sustainable long-term policy,” he said.
Boren said the White House event was likely prompted by polls showing concern about the level of spending.
There also is concern in the markets about how much the government is borrowing.
from the oklahoman
Boren, D-Muskogee, was among the lawmakers invited to hear President Barack Obama’s call for "pay-as-you-go” legislation requiring any new spending to be offset with cuts or tax increases.
"Paying for what you spend is basic common sense,” Obama said.
"Perhaps that’s why, here in Washington, it’s been so elusive.”
House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio scoffed at Obama’s proposal, saying, "Time after time this year, Democrats have ignored calls for fiscal responsibility and added more than a trillion dollars to our deficit — all of which will be paid by working families and their kids and grandkids.”
But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the so-called "paygo” rule pushed through by Democrats and followed by former President Bill Clinton led to four years of budget surpluses. She said Republicans abandoned the rule when former President George W. Bush was in office and surpluses collapsed into deficits.
Boren, a member of a conservative bloc of Democrats called the Blue Dogs, supports the rule, which is currently part of the budgeting process but is easily ignored, since it’s not law. And he praised Obama for embracing it.
"I’d like to see that backed up by action,” Boren said. "But we’ll see. I’m as skeptical as the next person.”
Boren said his biggest concern is that lawmakers will look to tax hikes rather than spending cuts to enforce the rule.
Obama said the government needs to pay for increases in entitlement spending and tax cuts.
"They’re not free, and borrowing to finance them is not a sustainable long-term policy,” he said.
Boren said the White House event was likely prompted by polls showing concern about the level of spending.
There also is concern in the markets about how much the government is borrowing.
from the oklahoman
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