Congressman Costa Joins Blue Dogs in Urging Bush to Call Bipartisan Budget Summit

WASHINGTOND.C. - In the wake of mountingnational debt, Congressman Jim Costa (CA-20) joined the Blue Dog Coalition todayin asking President Bush to call an emergency bipartisan budget summitregarding the nation's added fiscal burden in the wake of Gulf Regionreconstruction efforts.

Thirty-one Blue Dogs - moderate and conservative Democratsin the House of Representatives - joined Congressman Costa in signing the letterto President Bush. Costa has long expressed tremendous concern overmounting U.S.debt and is particularly troubled by our growing dependence on foreigngovernments to finance our debt. Earlier this year, Congressman Costa andthe Blue Dogs offered a 12 Step Plan that would cure our nation's addiction todeficit spending that required, among other things, all federal agencies passclean audits, a balanced budget, and the setting aside of a rainy day fund tobe used in the event of a natural disaster.

"Today, our nation's long term fiscal security is growingeven bleaker with the addition of billions of dollars in emergency supplementalfunds needed to rebuild the Gulf Region," writes the Blue Dog Coalition. "As such, members of the Blue Dog Coalition urge you to immediately call for anemergency bipartisan budget summit to get our nation's fiscal house in order."

Costa stated, "There is ampleevidence that the current federal budget system is not working. The tragedies of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita onlyemphasize its critical condition. TheBlue Dogs have sound and reasonable suggestions to help our nation get back ona strong fiscal footing. I certainlyhope the President will be open-minded enough to listen to these worthwhilesuggestions or any other suggestions that will restore fiscal sanity."

The thirty-two Blue Dogs signing the letter include: JoeBaca (CA), John Barrow (GA), Marion Berry (AR), Sanford Bishop (GA), Dan Boren(OK), Allen Boyd (FL), Dennis Cardoza (CA), Ed Case (HI), Ben Chandler (KY),Jim Cooper (TN), Jim Costa (CA), Bud Cramer (AL), Lincoln Davis (TN), HaroldFord (TN), Jane Harman (CA), Stephanie Herseth (SD), Tim Holden (PA), SteveIsrael (NY), Jim Matheson (UT), Mike McIntyre (NC), Mike Michaud (ME), DennisMoore (KS), Collin Peterson (MN), Earl Pomeroy (ND), Mike Ross (AR), JohnSalazar (CO), Loretta Sanchez (CA), Adam Schiff (CA), David Scott (GA), JohnTanner (TN), Gene Taylor (MS), Mike Thompson (CA).

The Blue Dogs letter adds that the Coalition, "believes thatthe United Statesshould not be forced to borrow funds from foreign nations to finance ourreconstruction efforts. We owe it to the American people to actresponsibly by sitting down together and devising a serious plan to keep America fromgoing even deeper into debt."