For Immediate Release                                                           Contact:  Kristen Hawn 202-226-9782
March 12, 2008

Blue Dogs Endorse House FY ‘09 Budget Resolution
Coalition Calls on Congress to Address Nation’s Long-term Fiscal
Challenges, Eliminate Wasteful Government Spending 

Washington, D.C. – Today, members of the fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition endorsed the Fiscal Year 2009 House Budget Resolution, citing the incorporation of Blue Dog budget principles, including a commitment to the extension of statutory PAYGO requirements and a fully offset fix for the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT).  The Blue Dogs also applauded House Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt for including provisions in the bill to eliminate wasteful government spending and begin the process of addressing the long term fiscal challenges facing the country.

“With this Budget Resolution, Chairman Spratt and the Blue Dogs are sending the clear message that we share the common goal of eliminating government waste and making sure that every taxpayer dollar is well spent,” said Congressman Mike Ross (D-AR), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications.  “The Blue Dogs applaud Chairman Spratt for taking real steps to reduce unnecessary spending and widespread abuse within major government programs, and we look forward to working with members of the House Democratic leadership to ensure that these vital reforms are fully and effectively implemented in the coming year.”

“The House Budget Resolution recognizes that we must address our nation’s long term fiscal challenges, and sooner rather than later,” said Congressman Allen Boyd (D-FL), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Administration.  “The Blue Dog Coalition is proud to support a budget resolution that is honest about our fiscal future and does not shirk our responsibility to confront these serious fiscal issues head on, whether short term or long term.  We applaud Chairman Spratt for working with us to bring attention to our country’s long term financial situation and for making fiscal responsibility a guiding principle of the House Budget Resolution.”

Not only does the House Budget Resolution contain an expressed commitment to address the long-term fiscal challenges facing the United States, it also cracks down on wasteful government spending within major government programs such as Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax enforcement.  The resolution also provides instructions to House committees to conduct regular performance reviews of programs, and to recommend legislative and administrative measures to improve them.

“The Blue Dogs have long advocated for the return of statutory PAYGO, which proved instrumental in finally balancing the federal budget in the late 1990s after decades of deficits,” said Congressman Dennis Moore (D-KS), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Policy.  “We are proud that this year’s budget proposal includes a commitment to this important, common-sense principle, as well as an AMT-patch that is fully paid for.  If we are going to continue making steady progress to reverse our country’s current fiscal problems, and do so without passing on billions of dollars in debt to future generations, we must remain committed to PAYGO and be fiscally responsible in the legislation we approve.”

The House Budget Resolution strictly adheres to the pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) rule, a principle long advocated by the Blue Dogs as a solution for putting an end to deficit spending.  In addition to providing fiscally responsible tax relief for 23 million middle income Americans through a fully offset AMT fix, the Fiscal Year 2009 House Budget Resolution endorses the extension of statutory PAYGO requirements, which were in place from 1990 until Republicans allowed them to expire in 2002.
 

The fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition was formed in 1995 with the goal of representing the center of the House of Representatives and appealing to the mainstream values of the American public.  The Blue Dogs are dedicated to a core set of beliefs that transcend partisan politics, including a deep commitment to the financial stability and national security of the United States.  Currently there are 47 members of the Blue Dog Coalition.  For more information, visit the Blue Dog Website at http://www.house.gov/ross/BlueDogs/.