Washington, DC – Today, Representative Heath Shuler (D-Waynesville) expressed his support for the President's establishment of a bipartisan commission created to evaluate federal spending and recommend measures to reduce the national debt. President Barack Obama signed an executive order yesterday to create the debt commission which has been dubbed the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. Congressman Shuler previously called upon the President to establish a bipartisan independent commission, like the one created yesterday, to scrutinize government spending and propose cuts to reduce wasteful and unnecessary expenditures.
“This Commission will put this Congress and this government back on track with regard to fiscal responsibility. Now that PAYGO rules have been signed into law and a bipartisan debt commission has been established, we are on our way to reeling in the national deficit,” said Congressman Shuler. “I am disappointed that the Senate did not pass legislation establishing this commission, but pleased that the President realizes the importance of fiscal responsibility. This commission will guarantee that the actions our government makes today will not become burdens on the backs of future generations.”
As a leader in the Blue Dog Coalition, Congressman Shuler plays a significant role in drafting, co-sponsoring and enacting fiscally responsible legislation such as the Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) budgetary rules and the Securing America's Future Economy (SAFE) Commission. PAYGO rules became law on February 4, 2010. In late January, Shuler and the Blue Dog Coalition outlined a 15 point plan, the “Blue Dog Blueprint for Fiscal Reform,” aimed at cutting spending and balancing the budget. In just a few short weeks, two key elements of the Blueprint, PAYGO rules and an independent debt commission, have been put into place.
The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform aims to reduce the deficit which is currently above 4 percent to 3 percent of the gross domestic product by 2015. Under the plan, an 18-member commission will seek out wasteful spending in the federal budget and suggest budget cuts to the Congress. The House and Senate will be required to agree to the cuts by a supermajority, or two-thirds. Congressional Democrats and Republicans will each appoint six members of the commission and President Obama will appoint six, with no more than four members aligned with the same political party. The recommendations proposed by the bipartisan commission require the support of 14 of the 18 members in order to be taken up by Congress.
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