Speaker Hastert to Democratic Leaders: 'Stop the Spending Spree'
10/19/2005 4:48:00 PM
To: National Desk
Contact: Ron Bonjean or Lisa C. Miller, 202-225-2800, both of the Office of House Speaker Dennis Hastert
WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 /U.S. Newswire/ -- House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) today released the following statement after Democratic Leaders sent a letter asking that the House cancel plans to take up a spending restraint amendment.
"It's not surprising that Democratic leaders would be opposed to a spending restraint amendment. They have one strategy: to tax and spend with reckless disregard for the budget, the economy or American jobs.
"Hurricanes Katrina and Rita ravaged our Gulf Coast region and ushered in the worst natural disaster in U.S. history. Rebuilding must be done. The citizens of the Gulf Coast deserve that. But this Congress must also be mindful of taxpayer dollars and the federal budget. I'm disappointed that at a time when America needs to pull together and do the right thing for the sake of future generations, Leader Pelosi is throwing around reckless comments that simply are irresponsible. Perhaps Democratic leaders haven't figured out that American citizens and future generations are left more abandoned when they carelessly write checks from the federal bank accounts. It's time for Democratic leadership to stop the spending spree.
"I would also like to remind people that when House Republicans passed The Budget Enforcement Act of 1997 (Reconciliation), 51 Democrats joined in the 327-97 vote approving the measure."
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