Congressman Platts' Statement on House Passage of Fiscal Reforms
"On November 18, 2005, the House of Representatives passed the Deficit Reduction Act (H.R. 4241), a fiscal reform bill aimed at reining in the rate of increase in mandatory spending. I voted in favor of H.R. 4241.
Mandatory federal government spending, which is spending that automatically increases unless Congress affirmatively acts to reform it, is currently increasing at an average rate of 6.4% per year-more than twice the rate of inflation. The increasing cost of mandatory spending, which is expected to grow from about half the federal budget today to over 60% of the federal budget in 2015, leaves less and less room in the budget for discretionary spending that must be approved every year by Congress. Although the term 'discretionary spending' makes such programs sound unimportant, they are in fact very important functions of government. Discretionary spending includes spending for border and homeland security, federal law enforcement, many education programs, national defense, and veteran's health care.
Under the Deficit Reduction Act, a variety of fiscal reforms drafted by each committee in the House of Representatives would be applied to mandatory spending programs. Social Security and Medicare are not impacted. In addition, the bill provides spending increases in several priority areas, including $1 billion in heating assistance for low-income families.
Overall, if enacted into law, the Deficit Reduction Act is estimated to produce approximately $50 billion in net savings over the next five years. Although a relatively small amount of money in comparison to the total federal budget, the savings achieved under the Deficit Reduction Act coupled with spending discipline elsewhere in the federal government and a growing economy that produces increased revenues will help put our nation on the right track to a better fiscal policy.
It is important to note that many so-called 'cuts' contained in this legislation are in fact reductions in what spending is estimated to otherwise be in future years, not actual reductions in the total funds which will be spent. For example, under current law, federal Medicaid spending is expected to increase from $190.7 billion next year to $260 billion in 2010. Under the Deficit Reduction Act, which tightens eligibility restrictions for those with significant assets and provides states with more flexibility in designing Medicaid benefits, federal Medicaid spending will still increase to about $256 billion, an increase of approximately 34%.
The Deficit Reduction Act passed the House by a vote of 217 to 215. The Senate passed its own fiscal reform bill (S. 1932) by a vote of 52 to 47 on November 3, 2005. Differences between the two bills must now be resolved by a joint House-Senate conference committee. In resolving these differences, the House and Senate must look to each other's bills in an attempt to produce a final fiscal reform bill that properly prioritizes mandatory spending choices to meet the needs of our nation's citizens while promoting fiscal integrity."
For more information regarding the Deficit Reduction Act, please visit the House Budget Committee's web site at http://www.house.gov/budget/.
Congressman Platts' Statement on Congressional Pay Raise
"As we near the end of the legislative session for 2005, Republican and Democrat congressional leaders are once again preventing an up or down vote on the annual cost-of-living adjustment for congressional salaries. Unless language is adopted by the House and Senate prior to the end of the year, congressional salaries will increase by 1.9 percent in 2006.
This will be the seventh straight year in which Republican and Democrat House leaders have not allowed the congressional pay raise to be openly debated or provided an up or down vote. Given the many fiscal challenges facing the federal government and the critical need for responsible fiscal restraint, Congress should lead by example and forgo its 2006 cost-of-living increase. Unfortunately, a bipartisan majority in Congress will likely not allow such an appropriate and responsible course of conduct to prevail.
I have consistently opposed the annual cost-of-living increases since first being elected to Congress in 2000 and have sponsored legislation repealing such automatic increases. Please be assured that I will continue to challenge my colleagues to lead by example and thereby embody the ideals of true public service."
Congressman Platts' Statement on Resolution for Immediate Iraq Withdrawal
"On November 18, 2005, the House of Representatives rejected by a vote of 403 to 3 a resolution (H. Res. 571) calling for the immediate withdraw of troops from Iraq. I joined the overwhelming majority of my colleagues, Democrats and Republicans, in voting to reject this resolution.
I believe that an immediate withdraw of troops from Iraq would not be in the best interests of America, the Iraqi people, or the world. Doing so would only embolden terrorists and their hateful ideology. Instead of establishing a specific date for withdrawal, we should bring our troops home as conditions permit, based on the readiness of the Iraqi military and development of democratic institutions. This is the task we should be focused on at this moment-standing with the Iraqis as they prepare to elect their first constitutional parliament in December and progress towards a better future that will make our troops proud and the world a safer and more secure place."
Web Page Highlights (www.house.gov/platts)
Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Information
The web site now includes information and links related to prescription drug assistance for Medicare beneficiaries, including a list of informational meetings being held.
(http://www.house.gov/platts/casework/medicare-rx.shtml)
The Month in Review
The following is a list of some additional key votes taken by the United States House of Representatives during the month of November of 2005:
Treasury-Transportation-Housing and Urban Development (H.R. 3058)
The House voted 392-31 to pass legislation funding the Departments of Treasury, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development in fiscal year 2006. In addition, the legislation would repeal funding provided in an earlier omnibus highway bill for two bridges in Alaska. These were dubbed "bridges-to-nowhere" because they serviced so few people. Congressman Platts voted in favor of H.R. 3058, and President George W. Bush signed the measure into law on November 30, 2005.
Veteran's Compensation (S. 1234)
The House and Senate both passed without objection legislation to provide a 4.1% cost-of-living adjustment effective December 1 for veterans' disability and survivor benefits. President George W. Bush signed the measure into law on November 22, 2005.
Boxing Commission Act (H.R. 1065)
The House voted 233-190 to reject a bill that would have established a new federal commission to regulate boxing. Critics of the legislation argued that a new federal commission is not needed as states already regulate professional boxing. Congressman Platts voted to reject H.R. 1065.
United Nations and the Internet (H. Con. Res. 268)
The House voted 423-0 to pass a resolution declaring the sense of Congress that the current oversight and management of the Internet's domain name (.com, .net, etc.) and addressing system service works. Because the Internet was first developed in the United States, its current world-wide addressing system and server are based in the U.S. The United Nations, with the support of nations such as China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, has argued it should be ceded more control over the Internet. Congressman Platts voted in favor of H. Con. Res. 268.
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