Ranking Member Press
Graham: “I don’t understand why we’re folding here.”
WASHINGTON - Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made these comments on raising the debt ceiling. GRAHAM: "I don't understand why we [Republicans] are folding here. For two months Republicans have been saying Democrats want to spend $3.5 trillion without any Republican input. If they are going to do that -- they need to raise the debt ceiling on their own. This is just a mistake." GRAHAM: "Democrats are spending the money by themselves throu… Continue Reading
10.06.21
Statement from Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Graham
WASHINGTON - Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement. "I worked with my Democratic colleagues to spend trillions of dollars to fight COVID because it was necessary. I worked with my Democratic colleagues to produce an infrastructure bill dealing with America's roads, bridges, ports, and other vital infrastructure because I viewed it as necessary. "However, I do not support the Democrats' reconciliation package and I do not support ra… Continue Reading
09.19.21
Graham Statement on Parliamentarian’s Guidance on Democrats’ Plan to Grant Legal Status to Illegal Immigrants in $3.5 Trillion Tax and Spend Plan
WASHINGTON - Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement on the Senate Parliamentarian's guidance that will not allow Democrats' to grant legal status to illegal immigrants in their massive tax and spend bill. "I'm very glad to hear that the Parliamentarian provided guidance to the Senate that granting legal status to illegal immigrants is not a proper use of the reconciliation process. "Having worked on several comprehensive immigration r… Continue Reading
08.10.21
Graham Amendment to Democrats’ Reckless Tax and Spend Agenda Would Improve Broken Asylum System
WASHINGTON - Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today introduced an amendment to the Democrats' fiscal year 2022 budget resolution to improve our broken asylum system. "The asylum system is being abused. This wave of illegal immigration will never stop unless we fix our laws. "Hundreds of thousands of people are flocking to the United States and applying for asylum fraudulently. Smugglers and cartels benefit greatly from these loopholes. My amendment is a … Continue Reading
08.10.21
Graham Hammers Democrats’ Reckless $4.2 Trillion Tax and Spend Spree Ahead of Vote-A-Rama
WASHINGTON - Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today spoke on the Senate floor ahead of the "vote-a-rama" on the Democrats' fiscal year 2022 budget resolution, which paves the way for more government, more taxes and higher prices. GRAHAM: "The question I have for my Democratic colleagues: how much will gas prices go up if this bill becomes a reality? How much will your heating bill go up because you shut down supply? How has there been an increase of a … Continue Reading
08.09.21
Notes on the Democrats’ Reckless Tax and Spend Spree: FY 2022 Budget Resolution
For the second time this year, the Democrat Majority is bypassing the Budget Committee to vote on a budget resolution. This time it is to allow for a $3.5 trillion spending spree. This plan, arriving just a few months after Democrats added $2 trillion to the debt by passing a liberal wish list without a single Republican vote, will unlock a massive expansion of the federal government and raise taxes on American families and businesses. The Reckless Tax and Spend Plan (Table A) includes: $4.2… Continue Reading
07.14.21
Graham Statement on Senate Democrats’ $3.5 Trillion Tax and Spend Plan
WASHINGTON - Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement on Senate Democrats agreeing to a $3.5 trillion reconciliation price tag for their fiscal year 2022 budget resolution. If passed, the budget resolution will pave the way for liberal Democrats to raise taxes, spend recklessly and further damage our economy. "The $3.5 trillion tax and spend package being proposed by Senator Schumer and other Democrats is using infrastructure as an excus… Continue Reading
06.08.21
Graham on Biden Budget: "This tax and spend budget will break the back of our economy."
WASHINGTON - Today, Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) made an opening statement at a hearing on President Biden's Fiscal Year 2022 budget proposal. • GRAHAM: "This budget I think is blind to the world in which we live in, in terms of military threats. It has an approach to the role of the federal government that will destroy free enterprise. It will create a tax and spend policy in perpetuity. It will make it very hard for the next generation of Ameri… Continue Reading
05.28.21
Fast Facts on the Impacts of the Biden Budget
On May 28, 2021, President Biden released his first budget, which focuses on new spending proposals while shortchanging America's national defense and ignoring our government's massive overspending and more than $28 trillion in national debt. Fast Facts on the Impacts of the Biden Budget over the Next 10 Years The Biden Budget sets a new record for debt as a share of the U.S. economy. By fiscal year 2031, the debt would equal 117% of gross domestic product (GDP), shattering a previous recor… Continue Reading
05.28.21
Senate Budget Ranking Member Graham on President Biden’s Budget
WASHINGTON - Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement on President Biden's budget for Fiscal Year 2022. "President Biden's budget is dead on arrival - just like all other presidential budgets. "It is insanely expensive. It dramatically increases nondefense spending and taxes. Over time it will result in a weakened Department of Defense. "There will be serious discussions about government funding. But the Biden budget isn't serious and … Continue Reading
05.24.21
CBO to Budget Ranking Member Graham: Democrats’ Spending Spree Shatters Previous Deficit, Debt Outlook
WASHINGTON - Recently Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) wrote to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) asking for the budgetary impact of enacting the American Rescue Plan Act and the types of additional spending increases proposed by President Biden, as compared to CBO's February 2021 projections. CBO found that over the next decade, deficits would rise by $7.6 trillion to a total of $22.1 trillion, and debt held by the public will surge to $42.9 trillio… Continue Reading
04.09.21
McConnell, Inhofe, Rubio, Graham, and Shelby Statement on Biden’s Disappointing Defense Budget
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Vice Chairman Marco Rubio (R-FL), Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL) issued the following joint statement regarding the Biden Administration's Fiscal Year 2022 budget: "President Biden recently said, 'If we don't get movi… Continue Reading
03.25.21
Graham: Dems’ “Insatiable Desire” to Raise Taxes Will Ruin the Country
WASHINGTON - Today, Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) gave an opening statement at a hearing on the state of the U.S. tax code, in response to Democrats' plans to raise taxes and implement other liberal tax policies. GRAHAM: "I want everybody in South Carolina to know that if Senator Sanders gets his way, it's going to be hard for corporations to remain competitive in our country. The reason people are leaving New York and California in droves to come to… Continue Reading
03.10.21
Graham: “I Could Not Disagree More” with Nominee for Deputy OMB Director’s Statement on Hyde Amendment
WASHINGTON - Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today voted in committee to advance Shalanda Young's nomination for Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget, but would withhold final support on the Senate floor until Ms. Young answers a follow up question regarding her position on the Hyde Amendment. "I voted in support of Ms. Young in committee with the understanding she must answer an additional question about her position on the Hyde Amendm… Continue Reading
03.06.21
Graham Statement on Vote Against $1.9 Trillion Liberal Wish List
WASHINGTON - Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement after he voted against Senate Democrats' $1.9 trillion liberal wish list. After a lengthy vote-a-rama series, the legislation passed 50-49 without a single Republican vote. "Ninety percent of what's in this bill has nothing to do with COVID. It is a liberal wish list. This is an opportunity to spend money on things unrelated to COVID, and Democrats are doing it because they can. "Th… Continue Reading
03.06.21
Graham Introduces Amendment to End Blue State Bailouts
WASHINGTON - Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) introduced an amendment to end The American Rescue Plan Act's bailout of failed policies and fiscally irresponsible states. The Graham amendment reverts back to the formula used in the CARES Act to distribute aid to states, which passed the Senate by a vote of 96-0 in March of last year. As written, The American Rescue Plan Act provides $350 billion - paid for by taxpayers - to bail out failed policies and po… Continue Reading
03.04.21
Graham: Democrats’ So-Called COVID Relief Bill is a Liberal Wish List
WASHINGTON - Today, Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) spoke on the Senate floor about the Democrats' so-called COVID-19 relief bill noting it is a liberal wish list that is filled with partisan priorities. On Democrats abandoning bipartisanship: GRAHAM: "[Democrats] now have power of the federal government, complete power. Control of the Senate, control of the House, control of the White House. They've abandoned bipartisanship. [Republicans] had the Presi… Continue Reading
02.25.21
Graham Statement on Parliamentarian’s Ruling on Minimum Wage
WASHINGTON - Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement on the Senate Parliamentarian ruling that Democrats' proposal to increase the federal minimum wage is an inappropriate policy change in reconciliation. "Very pleased the Senate Parliamentarian has ruled that a minimum wage increase is an inappropriate policy change in reconciliation. This decision reinforces reconciliation cannot be used as a vehicle to pass major legislative change … Continue Reading
02.25.21
Graham: We Have to Find a Way to Raise Minimum Wage Without Losing Jobs, Hurting Small Businesses
WASHINGTON - Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today questioned witnesses on finding a way to raise the federal minimum wage without losing jobs or hurting small businesses. Graham invited Greenville, South Carolina restaurant owner Carl Sobocinski to share his experience with working in and owning several restaurants. Graham also invited Dr. Douglas Holtz-Eakin, President of the American Action Forum and Dr. Jacob L. Vigdor, Professor of Public Policy &am… Continue Reading
02.10.21
Graham Questions Biden OMB Director Nominee on Immigration and Minimum Wage Increase
WASHINGTON - Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today questioned Ms. Neera Tanden, President Biden's nominee to serve as Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). IMMIGRATION: GRAHAM: "Here's what's happened, thus far in the first three weeks of the [Biden Administration]. We stopped building the wall. We've halted deportations. We canceled [the] Remain in Mexico policy. Withdrew from asylum agreements with [Northern] Triangle nations. We el… Continue Reading
