Congressman Gregory Meeks Statement on President Obama's Budget

(WASHINGTON, DC)– Congressman Gregory Meeks released the following statement today in regards to the 2010 budget plan that was announced today by President Barack Obama:

“Today, President Obama has released a plan that is an honest assessment of the challenges that face our nation and outlines a sounds fiscal plan to meet these challenges and strengthen our economy. Years of fiscal irresponsibility during the Bush administration that created much debt for our economy is now finally come to an end and I believe President Obama has provided a fiscally responsible budget plan that can help us recover from the financial errors of President Bush. His budget focuses heavily on economic recovery, strategic investments, and fiscal responsibility, which are all essential to stabilizing our nation.

The new budget brings in components of the economic recovery legislation recently signed into law that includes provisions that provide relief to middle-income taxpayers, create jobs by investments in infrastructure and other key areas, and extend unemployment benefits for millions of Americans. It also provides additional resources to help strengthen the economy and create jobs, including additional infrastructure investments and tax relief. In addition, the budget includes approximately $50 billion in savings by expanding oversight activities in large benefit programs, increasing tax compliance and enforcing activities to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.

I am committed to working with President Obama to help achieve his budget goals. It is important that we provide affordable and accessible health care, invest in clean energy to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and expand access to early and higher education for all. I am fully supportive of this budget and plan to work with him to reduce the deficit by half by 2013 and to restore the financial stability of the United States.”

An overview of the President’s budget can be found at www.omb.gov