U.S. Senator Susan Collins today voted against the Senate Majority Leader’s effort to prevent debate on legislation that would have cut and capped federal spending and required a balanced federal budget.
“The people of Maine are telling me that they are frustrated with the lack of progress in Washington. They understand that our nation’s unsustainable debt is one of our biggest challenges. And it is well past time for the Senate to tackle this problem.
“This is a perilous time for our country. Our $14.3 trillion debt threatens our prosperity. Tough choices need to be made, and Congress must address this issue as an urgent priority. That is why I voted in favor of beginning a debate on ways to rein in runaway spending and protect the long-term solvency of critical safety net programs.
“While I do not agree with the specifics of every proposal in this legislation, I do support the overall goals of "cut, cap and balance." We must cut spending while protecting those who are most vulnerable. We can do so by eliminating wasteful spending, setting priorities, and eliminating unnecessary special interest tax breaks such as the annual $6 billion subsidy for the ethanol industry. We must cap spending by enacting procedural budget reforms. And, we must pass a balanced budget constitutional amendment. I voted for such an amendment when I was first elected to the Senate.
“I am encouraged by the plan put forward by the bipartisan 'Gang of Six.' They have proposed the only truly bipartisan approach, a serious and carefully considered deficit reduction plan that can garner strong bipartisan support. While I do not support all the details of this plan, on balance, it offers a framework that balances spending cuts, tax reform, and budget enforcement to constrain future spending effectively and fairly.
"This plan and others could have been debated if only the Senate had not blocked consideration of the budget bill today."
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