Rep. Calvert Votes No to Adding $34 Billion to Deficit

Press Release

Urges Speaker Pelosi to address fiscal crisis

Today, Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) voted against H.R. 4213, the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act, because it will increase federal spending by $33 billion and increase the deficit by $34 billion. The House approved the legislation by a vote of 272 to 152.

"I am in favor of extending unemployment benefits, but I am against recklessly adding billions of dollars to our ballooning deficit," said Rep. Calvert. "We cannot continue down this road of fiscal insanity. If Speaker Pelosi insists on passing more spending bills, at a minimum they should be offset. I supported a Republican alternative which was paid for with left-over stimulus funds and also included extensions for COBRA.

"I commend my Democratic colleagues who, in a letter last week, urged House Democratic Leaders to start addressing our nation's fiscal crisis, stating that "extending critical, economic investments is no more important than paying for them.' I wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment, and add my voice in calling on Speaker Pelosi to start listening to members of her own party, the Republican Party and the American people as they plead for her to stop Congress' out-of-control spending spree. We must stop pushing off tough choices and start setting priorities that will help get our economy back on track once again."

Source