Costa Calls for Bipartisan, American Solutions to Deficit

Washington, DC – Rep. Jim Costa opposed partisan budgets put forth by both Republicans and Democrats, and called on lawmakers to set aside their differences to put the nation's fiscal health first. In that spirit, Rep. Costa joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Reps. Jim Cooper (D-TN) and Steve LaTourette (R-OH) in offering a budget alternative that mirrored the recommendations of the Simpson-Bowles Commission.

"In this budget debate, Members of Congress had a clear choice: vote for a viable, long-term budget solution or stay in their ideological trenches," said Costa. "Both the Democratic and Republican Budgets were merely for show because they lacked bipartisanship. The American people and the people in my district expect us to work together for real solutions, not pat ourselves on the back for passing bills that are merely sound bites. Thirty-eight lawmakers in the House were willing to do what was right for our country, and I hope their example will help my colleagues realize that bipartisanship is only way forward if we are serious about getting our fiscal house in order."

The Cooper-LaTourette Budget alternative would cut $4 trillion over the next decade by calling on shared sacrifice, not wreck less cuts. The reductions outlined in the budget framework would be enough to stabilize our fiscal house by 2015 and reduce our national debt below 70% by 2020.

In November, 102 members of the House wrote a letter to members of the Joint Select Committee urging them to consider the Simpson-Bowles recommendations and keep all options for deficit reduction on the table, including spending cuts and revenues. Only 38 members of the House supported the Cooper-LaTourette Budget when it was considered for a vote. This was the first time that the recommendations outlined by the Simpson-Bowles Commission were put to a vote on the House Floor.