Congressman Labrador Statement on Budget Negotiations

Statement

Idaho First District Representative Raul Labrador today released the following statement in response to President Obama asking Congress to act like "grown-ups."

"I'd like to welcome the President to the 2011 budget debate--a debate that began more than a year ago, under the leadership of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. And I also agree with his statement that it would be inexcusable to not take care of last year's business…but I would ask where his outrage was last year when this should have been finished. So I would take his words on leadership with a grain of salt.

"The Republicans in the House Majority are the only ones in this spending debate to show any leadership what-so-ever. Being an adult implies showing leadership and making difficult decisions. For the president to sit on the sidelines hurling insults at those who are actually working to fix the problems in this country hardly makes him the mature character in this storyline. The only plans that have been put forward to date that make meaningful spending cuts and keep the government operating have come from this Republican-led House. It has been more than forty days since the House passed a long-term continuing resolution (CR) to make meaningful cuts to the 2011 budget and prevent a government shutdown - and Harry Reid and the Senate have taken no meaningful action on that first CR to date.

"Not only has the House Majority shown incredible leadership and maturity on demanding significant spending cuts in the 2011 continuing resolution, today we released a comprehensive budget proposal which will cut spending and strengthen our economy, strengthen social security, and strengthen Medicare and Medicaid. The president and Democrat Leadership in the Senate have done nothing to show any desire to do what is necessary to fix our economy and put people back to work. With no plans of their own, they have resorted to petty insults and school yard taunts, allowing the House Republicans to make the tough choices they themselves have been too scared to embrace. Once again President Obama, our Bystander-in-Chief, has proven himself incapable of leading even those of his own party. "

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