Washington, DC – Last night, the U.S. Senate Budget Committee approved a budget resolution for Fiscal Year 2014 by a vote of 12-10. The budget would raise nearly $1 trillion in new revenue by eliminating wasteful tax loopholes, make smart cuts in federal spending, and invest in roads, bridges, and water infrastructure to create jobs. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Committee, voted for the resolution and released the following statement after it was approved:
“The Senate Democrats’ budget resolution that we approved reduces the deficit in a balanced, responsible manner without jeopardizing our economic recovery. It does so while protecting key programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Pell Grants – all of which would be cut by the Ryan Republican budget proposal. And, at a time when Rhode Island continues to struggle with high unemployment and more than two-thirds of our state’s roads are rated in poor or mediocre condition, our budget would make critical investments to upgrade transportation infrastructure and support construction jobs. I was proud to vote for this budget, and I will continue fighting alongside Chairman Murray and Senate Democrats to get it passed by the full Senate.”
More information about how the Ryan Republican budget resolution would hurt Rhode Island and other states is available here.
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