Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) released the following statement today after voting against the Cut, Cap and Balance Act of 2011:
 
“The American people have repeatedly asked us to find ways to cut federal government spending, eliminate waste, and get our fiscal house in order.  I am eager to roll up my sleeves and get this difficult mission accomplished.  I am, therefore, very disappointed that the bill we are considering today is merely an extreme partisan statement with no chance of becoming law.
 
“This bill also lacks what I continue to advocate for -- a balanced budget amendment to our U.S. Constitution.  The first bill I introduced this Congress offers a realistic path to achieve fiscal responsibility and balance. H. J. Res 10 has the support of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition. It requires the President to submit a balanced budget in his or her annual transmission to Congress and protects Social Security and allows Congress flexibility to protect vital programs.

“Cutting spending and balancing our budget is long overdue.  The American people expect us to work together to get the job done.  Unfortunately, H.R. 2560 ignores all efforts at bipartisan compromise and would slash Medicare, Social Security, and vital programs that we rely on every day.  It sets spending at levels 18 percent of the Gross Domestic Product, far lower than President Reagan’s budget proposals of 21 percent and even some Republicans have called it too extreme to support.  It is dead before arrival -- the President has already declared he will veto it and the Senate refuses to consider it.
 
I call on the House to do what the American people sent us here to do – consider a real, bipartisan fiscally responsible bill that actually solves our nation’s budget problems.  I urge Speaker Boehner to consider H. J. Res. 10 immediately.”

Background:

H.R. 2560, the Cut, Cap and Balance Act of 2011 is legislation that would require $111 billion in spending reductions in FY 2012, and would establish statutory caps to limit total government spending in future years, including both discretionary and mandatory. The measure also provides for the President's request for an increase in the debt ceiling, but makes it contingent on a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution passing Congress and being sent to the states for ratification.

Groups have come out in opposition to this extreme proposal, including the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a nonpartisan group, which calls H.R. 2560, “One of the most ideologically extreme pieces of major budget legislation to come before Congress in years, if not decades.”