Press Releases

Rep. Loudermilk (R-GA) issued the following statement today after voting against H.R. 1314, a two-year budget deal that would raise the debt ceiling without significant spending reductions:

"When President Obama assumed office in 2009, our national debt hovered around $10 trillion – much less than today’s $18 trillion debt. For a president who campaigned on change, he’s sure not leaving a lot of spare change for the American people.

“We must pay off the debt we owe and find a way to stop the financial bleeding. Unfortunately, the bill that passed the House today is not the way to accomplish this goal. This bill would raise the debt ceiling until March of 2017, and give the Administration a blank check to continue its reckless spending, while failing to make corresponding spending cuts.

“This secretive deal making is not in the best interest of American taxpayers. Federal spending must be put through the proper budget process, not pushed through the House by a select group of power brokers with no input from the majority of members. The American people deserve a transparent process with careful deliberation and judicious review of all budgetary line items, especially as it pertains to our national defense. Passing this budget without completing the National Defense Authorization Act is like writing a blank check to Obama to run the military with no direction from Congress.

“In addition, this bill does not go far enough to enact enforceable spending reductions or provide real solutions to resolving our ongoing budget crisis. This legislation would defy previously established spending caps by $50 billion for FY16 and by $30 billion for FY17. The average American citizen is now responsible for more than $57,000 of our national debt, resulting from many years of deficit spending. Rather than continuing on the current path of out-of-control spending that will pass the burden on to future generations, we must adhere to current spending caps, prioritize our nation’s most critical programs, and cut wasteful spending.”