Ranking Member Press
Spending Doesn’t Equal Investment, Sessions Tells Obama’s Energy Secretary
March 2, 2011 Contact: Stephen Miller, 202.224.0642 "Just because you call something an 'investment' doesn't make it so… The president's plan worsens a desperate fiscal circumstance and fails to invest-by any honest measure-in our nation's energy future. America has vast, proven energy reserves and yet the president continues to lock those away in the pursuit of a failed green jobs stimulus that has produced neither the promised energy nor the promised jobs. Instead, the president's pla… Continue Reading
06.13.11
Sessions On CR: Reductions In Spending Must Be Sustained
"We will fight every day, week, and month to make the government leaner and the economy more prosperous." WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, made the following comments today following the passage of a continuing resolution that funds the government over the next two weeks at approximately $4 billion less than current levels: "Washington tried the big-government approach for the last two years. It failed. All that was achieved through the … Continue Reading
06.13.11
Sessions Questions WH Rhetoric After Report Detailing Government Waste
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, made the following comment today following the release of a report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that highlighted redundancy in federal programs: "Today's GAO report proves that for all the president's rhetoric about tough cuts, he has failed to make some of the easiest: leaving untouched countless programs that are wasteful, duplicative, and unnecessary-helping speed the country to his p… Continue Reading
06.13.11
Sessions To Obama Education Sec.: Can’t Win Future For Our Children With Borrowed Money
"Interest on our debt was $196 billion last year-three times as large as the total education budget this year. In 10 years, under the president's plan, the annual interest payment will be $844 billion, 10 times the size of the budget's call for education spending... You cannot win the future for our children with borrowed money." "What we need is leadership that focuses on why our education system is not meeting our expectations. This funding crisis is an opportunity to challenge the education … Continue Reading
06.13.11
The Spending Binge Continues: GAO Exposes Billions In Waste, Duplication
Today, GAO identified massive duplication, fragmentation, and other inefficiencies that cost taxpayers billions of dollars every year in waste and degraded service-all while President Obama's budget surges federal spending across the board and adds $13 trillion to the debt. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued its first annual report on government duplication today. The report identifies 34 broad areas of duplication as well as 47 additional areas of potential savings. In all, GAO … Continue Reading
06.13.11
On Two-Year Anniversary, Sessions Comments On Failed Stimulus
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, today commented on the second anniversary of the enactment of President Obama's stimulus package, which spent nearly $1 trillion in a failed effort to revive the economy and bring down unemployment. Sessions made his remarks at a hearing with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, where he also addressed the president's threat to veto Republican proposals to reduce spending this year: "Let's remember: those … Continue Reading
06.13.11
Sessions to Geithner: Grow the Economy, Not the Government
"We need to stop growing the government and start growing the economy. That means reducing spending now. The situation is too urgent-and the need for a new direction too great-for us to delay action any longer." WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, delivered an opening statement today at a hearing with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to examine President Obama's budget proposal. Sessions' remarks, as prepared, follow: "Thank you, S… Continue Reading
06.13.11
Obama's FY2012 Budget: A Failure of Leadership
A Detailed Summary and Analysis of President Obama's FY 2012 Budget… Continue Reading
06.13.11
HBC & SBC Republican Summary of President's FY2012 Budget
THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET SPENDS, TAXES, AND BORROWS TOO MUCH - STIFLING JOB GROWTH TODAY AND THREATENING OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE In challenging times, a chief executive must lead. But President Obama has failed to confront the fiscal and economic challenges before us. Instead, he continues down the same unsustainable path: growing the government, weakening the economy, and increasing the burden of debt on each and every American. Spends Too Much: $8.7 Trillion In New Spending Despite this year's $1… Continue Reading
06.13.11
Sessions: President's Budget 'A Blueprint For Losing The Future'
"The president has spoken in recent days about winning the future. But his budget reads more like a blueprint for losing the future." WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following statement today in response to President Obama's Fiscal Year 2012 budget proposal, which was submitted to Congress this morning: "Our national debt will soon be larger than our entire economy. We borrow 40 cents of every dollar we spend. This crushing… Continue Reading
06.13.11
As Economic Challenges Grow, Sessions Looks Back At Reagan Legacy On Role Of Government
"[President Reagan] lowered taxes dramatically, including a reduction in the top rate from seventy percent to less than thirty. And he reined in a runaway bureaucracy that had trapped innovation and productivity in a labyrinth of regulation and red tape… We would be wise to remember the lessons of that era. Peace through strength; prosperity through freedom." WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, today commemorated the 100th anniversary… Continue Reading
06.13.11
Under President Obama’s Spending “Freeze,” Debt Will Grow $4 Trillion In 5 Years
• The president's "freeze" would continue dramatically increased spending levels at a time when we have a $1.5 trillion deficit, producing an estimated $3.8 trillion in accumulated deficits over the next 5 years.[1] It maintains inflated levels of non-defense discretionary spending while allowing for ongoing increases in the rest of the budget. • The "freeze" pushes us down the path to a total debt[2] of $21.2 trillion by 2016-well over 100 percent of GDP. • The levels locked in… Continue Reading
06.13.11
Experts And The Public Agree: Democrat Health Care Plan Adds To Deficit
"Health reform is part of deficit reform." President Barack Obama, Remarks to the Families USA Conference (January 27, 2011) ***** "How, then, does the ACA magically convert $1 trillion in new spending into painless deficit reduction? It's all about budget gimmicks, deceptive accounting, and implausible assumptions used to create the false impression of fiscal discipline." Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Joseph Antos, and James C. Capretta, "Health Care Repeal Won't Add to the Deficit" (January 19, 2011)… Continue Reading
06.13.11
Sessions: With Budget Proposal, President’s Deficit Credibility At Stake
"In two weeks, on February 14th, the president will submit a new budget to Congress. This may be his last chance to get this right. For the president to be a credible voice in this debate he must put forward a budget with significantly lower spending levels. He cannot present Congress with the same unserious plan he presented at the State of the Union." WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, delivered remarks today addressing the U.S.' rising d… Continue Reading
06.13.11
Sessions Calls For Action As Deficit Projection Worsens
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, responded tonight to President Obama's State of the Union address and the president's plan to maintain increased levels of discretionary spending: "Massive federal spending has placed our nation on an unsustainable path. And yet tonight the President pledged to continue down this perilous road for at least five more years. Instead of deficit reduction, President Obama has put a forward a plan for deficit … Continue Reading
06.13.11
Sessions Reacts To State Of The Union: President In 'Denial' On Spending
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, responded tonight to President Obama's State of the Union address and the president's plan to maintain increased levels of discretionary spending: "Massive federal spending has placed our nation on an unsustainable path. And yet tonight the President pledged to continue down this perilous road for at least five more years. Instead of deficit reduction, President Obama has put a forward a plan for deficit … Continue Reading
06.13.11
FACT CHECK: OBAMACARE AND THE DEFICIT
Democrats used budget gimmicks to manipulate the CBO score of Obamacare. The truth: It adds nearly $700 billion to the deficit in the first ten years alone. The Gimmicks: • Counting a full ten years of tax increases to pay for only six years of new health care spending. Imaginary savings from Democrats, but deficits in the real world. • Double-counting $398 billion in Medicare cuts. Democrats count it both as money to extend the life of Medicare and as money to pay for a new health… Continue Reading
06.13.11
Sessions Delivers Opening Remarks At First Budget Hearing Of 112th Congress
"Our goal is not an era of austerity but an era of prosperity." WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), incoming Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, delivered an opening statement at today's hearing, prior to the testimony of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, concerning America's economic situation and growing debt. Sessions' remarks, as prepared, follow: "Thank you Mr. Chairman. I respect you, value our friendship, and look forward to working with you to make our countr… Continue Reading
06.10.11
With Economic Recovery Weakest In Modern History, Senate Democrats Deny Country Much-Needed Budget
[Note: To view a one-pager on debt and jobs, please click here.]"Our fast-rising debt, and our inability to adopt a credible budget plan, is shattering economic confidence and jeopardizing our future. Yet Senate Democrats refuse to put forward such a budget plan or to confront the debt that they themselves have surged... To put America back to work the Senate needs to get back to work."WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the followin… Continue Reading
06.10.11
By The Numbers: As Senate Democrats Ignore Budget, Debt Surges And Economy Suffers
768 .................. Days since the Democrat Senate has passed a budget resolution $3.2 trillion ....... Debt accumulated since a budget was last passed $7.1 trillion ....... Total federal spending over that time $413 billion ....... Net interest payments over that time 2024 ................ Projected year that Medicare will go bankrupt 9.1 .................. Percent of workforce currently unemployed 90,000 ............. Approximate number of federal workers hired since the Senate last p… Continue Reading
