Statement in Support of U.S. Senate Bill to Avoid Automatic Spending Cuts

  

 

“Yesterday Democratic leaders in the Senate unveiled a plan to replace the automatic spending cuts slated for March 1 – known as “the sequester” – with a balanced package of increased revenue targeted on the wealthy and certain corporations and reasonable spending cuts that protect needy families, seniors, and people with disabilities and investments in our economy.  As an organization that supports public investments in our communities, we are pleased to see a balanced approach that is the right solution for Colorado’s working families, children and seniors. 

 

“This Senate plan announced today builds on the bipartisan approach taken in December, in which half the cost of canceling the sequestration cuts for two months was offset with increased revenues. 

 

“There is agreement on both sides of the aisle that sequestration is bad policy.  It will hurt the still-struggling economy and undermine our ability to invest in critical priorities like education, food safety, and medical research.

 

“But replacing one set of harmful spending cuts with another, as the House of Representatives would do, would only make things worse.  The House has twice voted to replace the automatic spending cuts with another set of irresponsible cuts, including cuts in basic food assistance and health care.

 

“This Senate plan is a far more responsible choice.  Going forward, we call on Senators Bennet and Udall to support a balanced approach to future deficit reduction efforts that includes additional revenues, protects vulnerable Americans, and ensures that we can continue to invest in the building blocks of our economy.”

 

###