New Democrat Coalition Leadership Reacts to President Obama’s FY 2015 Proposed Budget
The leadership of the pro-growth New Democrat Coalition issued the following statement today in response to the President’s release of his FY 2015 budget to Congress:
“As we review President Obama’s proposed budget, the New Democrat Coalition will look for priorities that support economic growth & job creation, foster innovation, and make long term investments to keep the U.S. competitive in the global economy.
While it is easy to look at the history of the past few years and the difficulties facing our country, it is important to recognize that the strategic choices in a budget are reflective of a larger vision for the future of the United States. We’ve seen 45 months of private-sector job growth, the longest period of sustained growth since the late 1990s. At $2.3 trillion, our exports have risen for four straight years and our trade deficit is the lowest it has been since the President assumed office. And the fiscal deficit is at its lowest level since 2008, a significant improvement from the period during the recession when the gap ran as high as $1 trillion each year. America’s economy is coming back, but there’s still more work to do.
At a time when so many want to look inward and backward, it has never been more important for the United States to keep its focus forward and outward – to the future and to the global economy. That’s why we commend President Obama for his clear commitment to modernizing America’s crumbling infrastructure, enhancing our human potential through technological investments like broadband deployment, basic research, and STEM education, encouraging businesses from the small corner shops to the largest companies to ship products – not jobs – overseas, and reinvigorating American manufacturing. Americans deserve a budget that will strengthen and expand our middle class, and a renewed focus on public investment and global engagement will do just that.
We would be remiss if we did not mention that, while the short-term fiscal situation of the United States has improved, we need to make the long-term decisions to get our fiscal house in order. In the 1960s, for every $3 we invested in America’s competitiveness, we spent $1 on our social safety net. Today, that ratio is reversed and set to worsen over the next decade. With smart choices that put the next generation ahead of the next election, we can ensure a future-focused, pro-opportunity budget that will foster a competitive U.S. economy.
We hope the recent bipartisan cooperation on the two year budget deal, the omnibus appropriations, and the debt ceiling continues. We call on our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to maintain a spirit of cooperation as we work through the budget process.”
The statement above was endorsed by New Democrat Coalition Chairman Rep. Ron Kind (WI-03), Vice-Chair Rep. Jim Himes (CT-04), Vice-Chair Rep. Gerry Connolly (VA-11), and Vice-Chair Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02).
The New Democrat Coalition is dedicated to maintaining America’s standing as the world’s strongest, most successful nation. Founded in 1997, the New Dems believe firmly in the power of American ingenuity and innovation, and are focused on finding ways to foster and harness this creativity to grow our economy, create new American jobs, and ensure a safer and more secure future for our country.
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