HYDE-SMITH: FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY SHOULDN’T MEAN SLASHING NATIONAL DEFENSE OR THE PRESIDENT’S AGENDA

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), who this week cosponsored a constitutional balanced budget amendment resolution, today said a separate budget resolution (S.Con.Res.36) defeated by the Senate on Thursday would have forced irresponsible spending cuts and jeopardized President Trump’s agenda.

 

“I support balancing the budget by controlling spending and the national debt.  However, there’s little value in theatric votes on bills that sound good but would result in irresponsible cuts to priorities like funding our military, building the border wall, and implementing President Trump’s agenda.  I do not believe such consequences are in the best interests of our nation or Mississippi,” Hyde-Smith said.

 

“The fact is that a vote for this resolution was a vote for business as usual—more omnibus spending bills and more congressional dysfunction,” she said.  “If we’re serious about being fiscally responsible, let’s do it the right way.”

 

S.Con.Res.36 offered by Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) failed 21-76.

 

Earlier this week, Hyde-Smith cosponsored a constitutional balanced budget amendment (S.J.Res.24), which would require two-thirds approval in both houses of Congress to allow deficit spending and would cap spending at 18 percent of the Gross Domestic Product.  Certain waivers would be allowed during wartime or imminent danger to national security.