Oversight
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
06.10.11
Responding to Grim Job Stats, Sessions Highlights Need for Budget, Spending Control
"The persistence of slow growth and unacceptably high unemployment demonstrates the failure of this administration's attempts to revive the economy by artificial means... Our inability to honestly budget got us into this mess. But the Democrat-led Senate, which has not passed a budget plan in 765 days, has decided this year not to present a budget plan at all... They are unwilling to produce a budget because they are unwilling to accept our fiscal reality. It's the hubris of big government."WASH… Continue Reading
06.10.11
Sessions Remarks On Majority Leader Reid’s Decision To Duck Adjournment Vote
"The Majority Leader's decision not to bring adjournment to a vote... is a stark admission that the Democrat Senate cannot justify to the American people its unwillingness to work on a budget. So indefensible is their stance that they have resorted to ducking a simple vote on whether to adjourn the chamber for Memorial Day recess." WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following comment today after Majority Leader Reid decided not t… Continue Reading
06.10.11
GOP Senators Tell Reid: No Budget, No Recess
"In this time of economic danger, the Senate continues to stonewall any and all action on a FY2012 budget. For this reason, we respectfully request that you delay any adjournment of this body until you or members of your party in the Senate bring forward a budget resolution and schedule a meeting of the Budget Committee-a power which resides solely with the majority- to work on that budget..."The House completed its work on the FY2012 budget resolution on April 15th. But no budget can become bin… Continue Reading
06.10.11
Sessions: "Shameful Display" From Reid, Senate Dem Leaders On Budget
"The reason we have not seen a budget from Chairman Conrad and the Democrat Senate is because they know that they can't put forward a plan that wins the support of both their caucus and of the American people... The Democrat strategy is just to attack, vilify, and disparage House Republicans because they did the honorable thing and put forward an honest plan...If, after this shameful display, Majority Leader Reid wants to adjourn for recess, all I can say is this: not with my consent. I will for… Continue Reading
05.23.11
With Committee Markup Possible Next Week, Sessions Says Nation Can’t Afford A Closed Process
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following statement about the potential for a budget mark-up next week and the need for the public and the press to be able to review the proposed resolution 72 hours in advance: "After weeks of delay, I have been informed that a mark-up in the Budget Committee may occur as soon as the beginning of next week. Every single Republican has asked for, and expects to receive, 72 hours to review Chair… Continue Reading
