Costa Stresses Need for Careful Budget Cuts

Costa: "We cannot use an axe where a scalpel is needed"

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) released the following statement after voting against H.R. 1, a continuing resolution that would fund the federal government through September 30, 2011:

"This week the House had a serious debate about the difficult task of putting our economy back on the path toward fiscal sustainability. With our national debt approaching $14 trillion, it is imperative that we cut spending, grow our economy, and create jobs for the San Joaquin Valley.

"Reducing our nation's deficit requires careful consideration of our nation's priorities. We cannot be reckless, and we cannot use an axe where a scalpel is needed. Throughout the course the week, I voted for more than $1 billion in additional targeted cuts to wasteful, inefficient, and ineffective programs. Tough oversight and targeted cuts like these are necessary for righting our fiscal house.

"The legislation I voted against tonight won't grow the economy and it won't create jobs. It would mean fewer police officers patrolling our streets, fewer teachers in our classrooms, and fewer workers building a state of the art high speed rail system in the heart of the Central Valley. The legislation takes the meat axe approach to smart investments in education and health care that would prove beneficial for the Valley.

"Further, this continuing resolution contained several provisions that could have jeopardized recent progress made to improve our Valley's water supply. Numerous water managers across the San Joaquin Valley contacted me to warn of the unintended consequences of this legislation and urged me to vote against the legislation. Water remains among my highest priorities, and I cannot support carelessly crafted legislation that would undermine our efforts to bring water to our farms.

"The legislation the House passed tonight is a first step in a very long process. I am hopeful that Republicans and Democrats can come together in a bipartisan fashion to improve this legislation. Our nation's fiscal health depends on it."