Washington DC – Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter released the following statement after reviewing President Obama’s budget for FY 2012:
“The bottom line is the biggest thing we can do to move forward toward economic stability and reducing our deficit, is to get people back to work, and that is my number one priority.
The President’s blueprint maintains some important investments which will help the 7th Congressional District and the state of Colorado maintain and create jobs. However, it also reminds us we got into this budget mess because we prosecuted two wars without paying for them and gave budget-busting tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires.
Some of the priorities that are maintained which will help put people in the 7th CD back to work are:
· Funding for completion of the new VA Hospital in Aurora . I will continue to fight to ensure this funding is maintained so we can fulfill the promise we made to those who served and defended our nation.
· Continued support for research and development of energy efficiency and renewable energy programs led by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden. As we recover from the recession and oil prices continue to rise, this is a critical investment we have to make for job growth here in the United States and for our energy security and independence.”
· Continued funding for the Orion space capsule project which means approximately 4,000 jobs here in Colorado working with Lockheed Martin.
Furthermore, the President offered reductions to the debt by cutting unnecessary and duplicative programs on items like the F-35 alternate engine, the Marine Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle, and additional C-17 cargo aircraft.
This budget reduces domestic spending levels to their lowest levels since the Eisenhower Administration and is a major step forward toward getting our fiscal house in order. We have a long road to go to responsibly balance the budget, but this plan is a vast improvement over irresponsible proposals by House Republicans to remove cops from our communities and slash investments to important energy programs.
To move our country forward and ensure long-term economic stability, security and sustained job growth here in our country, we have to both cut our spending and reduce our debt, as well as make the critical necessary investments in education for our children and rebuilding our aging transportation and energy infrastructure.”
