Washington, DC - Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) made the following statement today upon release of President Obama’s budget proposal:

“Today President Obama has taken one of many steps needed to repair and rebuild our country.  As we stare down an impending $1 trillion a year deficit, it is clear that under President Obama’s leadership business as usual is no longer acceptable.  The President’s budget is honest and straightforward, and the budget gimmicks of the last eight years are gone.  By making hard choices and reinstating pay-as-you-go rules, the President’s budget cuts our deficit in half by 2012 and begins to realign the priorities of our budget so they match those of the American people – providing quality education for our kids, affordable health care for all Americans, easing the tax burden on the middle-class, and ending our dependence on foreign oil. 

“President Obama’s budget proposal will index Pell grants to take into account inflation so the grants will have the buying power necessary to keep up with tuition prices.  This budget takes necessary steps to combat waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid.  This has long been an objective of mine and is necessary to ensure the integrity of these valuable programs.  The budget also sets up a health care reserve fund of more than $630 billion over 10 years.  These are critical actions if we are to achieve health care reform, and I will do everything in my power to see to it the President’s efforts are successful.  Together Congress and the Administration will begin work on a cap-and-trade system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and focus revenue on developing clean energy technologies and green jobs.  This too will be a challenge, but last year I put forward draft cap-and-trade legislation that will serve as a good starting-point in this debate.

“Over the last eight years our budget has not been accountable to the people, nor has it provided the resources our country needs.  Without action, our government is leaving our children and grandchildren with a deficit that once was inconceivable.  No responsible parent or grandparent would willingly leave their children in such debt, and our government must ensure we don’t leave that debt to future generations.  This country is not ours to keep, it is a gift that we give our children, and I would not be serving my district well if I led my people to believe all is well with our nation’s fiscal health.  This country needs confident and courageous action, tough and thoughtful reform, and today President Obama delivered.”