WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday, the House of Representatives passed the Bipartisan Budget Act. Written by House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan and Senate Budget Committee chairman Patty Murray, the bill will provide $63 billion in temporary sequester relief and $85 billion in mandatory savings. It will eliminate waste, cut corporate welfare, and make needed reforms to autopilot spending. On net, the bill will reduce the deficit by $23 billion over the next ten years. The Senate will take it up next week.
Upon passage of the legislation, Chairman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin made the following statement:
“I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for supporting this bill. It reduces the deficit—without raising taxes. And it does so by cutting spending in a smarter way. It doesn’t go as far as I’d like, but it’s a firm step in the right direction.
“This agreement will stop Washington’s lurch from crisis to crisis. It will bring stability to the budget process and show both parties can work together.
“I want to thank Senator Murray for her hard work on this agreement. And I’m confident her colleagues in the Senate will pass this bill.”
Iowa’s Third District Representative Tom Latham said Thursday that the bill “begins permanent reforms of mandatory spending and reduces the deficit. Most importantly, this budget blueprint ends Washington’s recent and broken cycle of governing from crisis to crisis that risks America’s future and the trust of Americans in their leaders.”
Click here to learn more about the Bipartisan Budget Act.
Thank God they have allowed rich doctors to avoid the looming rate cuts by Medicare/Medicaid and government pensions will remain untouched. Unfortunately, literally millions will become homeless as there is no room in the budget for the unemployment extension that will end December 28th. Paul Ryan was a major part in crafting this budget and is now being touted as a Congressional “Jesus” for leaving millions of already poor people with zero income with a little over a week’s notice. Disgusting! My potential Republican vote just turned straight Democrat. Merry Christmas folks!
The house has passed many budgets, the senate has refused to vote on any of them.
It is about time the worked together. That is what they are there for.