Conservatives demand spending cuts and budget reforms due to $2 trillion deficit projection.
Sen. Kevin Cramer Predicts Government Shutdown as Congress Deadlocked on Budget
Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) confidently stated on Sept. 6 that a federal government shutdown is inevitable. He expressed his lack of concern, citing the ongoing deadlock in Congress over a new budget as the reason behind his prediction.
The dire projection of a federal budget deficit of $2 trillion or more, as reported by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CFRB), also didn’t surprise Sen. Cramer. He attributed this to the continuous increase in spending, burdensome regulations, and enforcement policies that hinder economic growth. Additionally, he criticized the Democrats’ proposal for tax increases, which he believes would further strain an already struggling economy.
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Sen. Cramer’s sentiments were echoed by other senators and representatives who were asked about the projection and potential shutdown. Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) emphasized the need for bipartisan cooperation and urged both parties to set aside partisan differences to find solutions.
Sen. Rosen highlighted her support for the “No Budget, No Pay Act,” a bipartisan bill that would withhold congressional paychecks if a spending plan is not agreed upon. She believes this measure would incentivize lawmakers to prioritize budget negotiations.
Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.), drawing from his experience in the House of Representatives, expressed concern over Washington’s spending addiction. He called for real, structural spending reforms to address the projected $2 trillion deficit and prevent future generations from inheriting unsustainable debt.
Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) simply described the deficit projection as “terrible.”
As for the budget deadlock, the heart of the problem lies in the divided government. Democrats control the White House and the Senate, while Republicans hold a slim majority in the House. Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) faces challenges in fulfilling his promise to return to pre-pandemic spending levels and establish a regular budget process.
With limited time before the fiscal year ends on Sept. 30, the House has only managed to pass one major appropriation bill for the Department of Defense. The remaining bills are awaiting floor votes, but their passage seems uncertain.
Speaker McCarthy is expected to propose a short-term continuing resolution (CR) to extend the deadline and allow more time for budget negotiations. However, this approach has drawn criticism from members of the House Freedom Caucus (HFC), a group of conservative representatives who advocate for significant budget reforms.
Despite the challenges, lawmakers like Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.) and Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) emphasize the need for mandatory spending reform to address the deficit. They argue that entitlement programs, such as Social Security and Medicare, account for a significant portion of the budget and must be reformed to regain control over the deficit.
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