Boren Lacks Credible Plan to Cut Debt & Create Jobs

March 16, 2011

FYI, a similar version of this release below went out to the following districts: Jason Altmire (PA-04), John Barrow (GA-12), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Tim Bishop (NY-01), Dan Boren (OK-02), Leonard Boswell (IA-03), Bruce Braley (IA-01), Dennis Cardoza (CA-18), Russ Carnahan (MO-03), Ben Chandler (KY-06), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Jim Cooper (TN-05), Jim Costa (CA-20), Mark Critz (PA-12), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Peter DeFazio (OR-04), Joe Donnelly (IN-02), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Martin Heinrich (NM-01), Brian Higgins (NY-27), Jim Himes (CT-04), Maurice Hinchey (NY-22), Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15), Tim Holden (PA-17), Rush Holt (NJ-12), Jay Inslee (WA-01), Steve Israel (NY-02), Bill Keating (MA-10), Dale Kildee (MI-05), Ron Kind (WI-03), Larry Kissell (NC-08), Rick Larsen (WA-02), David Loebsack (IA-02), Jim Matheson (UT-02), Carolyn McCarthy (NY-04), Mike McIntyre (NC-07), Jerry McNerney (CA-11), Michael Michaud (ME-02), Brad Miller (NC-13), Bill Owens (NY-23), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), Gary Peters (MI-09), Collin Peterson (MN-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), David Price (NC-04), Nick Rahall (WV-03), Mike Ross (AR-04), Loretta Sanchez (CA-47), Kurt Schrader (OR-05), Heath Shuler (NC-11), Adam Smith (WA-09), Betty Sutton (OH-13), John Tierney (MA-06), Niki Tsongas (MA-05), Pete Visclosky (IN-01), Tim Walz (MN-01), Anthony Weiner (NY-09), David Wu (OR-01), John Yarmuth (KY-03)

Boren Lacks Credible Plan to Cut Debt & Create Jobs
Oklahoma Democrat Fails to Take Stand and Lead on Fiscal & Economic Recovery

Washington — As a new Joint Economic Committee report outlines the job-crushing effects of excess debt, Democrats such as Dan Boren continue to lack a serious plan to cut back on our record deficit, which would encourage investment in America and lift uncertainty facing small businesses trying to create jobs. Republicans have presented a full plan for fiscal reform this year that will set the stage for long-term economic growth, and now it’s time for Boren and his Democrat leaders to do the same.

“The Democrats failed to produce a budget plan last year, and now Dan Boren and his Democrat colleagues are failing again to lead on the critical issue of addressing America’s catastrophic debt and clearing the way for entrepreneurs and small businesses to invest in job creation,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “It’s time that Boren and his Democrat leaders step up and propose meaningful plans for fiscal reform to encourage job creation in the private sector.”

A Joint Economic Committee report showed how public-sector cuts result in economic growth:

“The report, released by Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Tex.), is based on academic studies of other countries showing that deficit-reduction plans that rely primarily on spending cuts lead to more robust economic growth than plans that rely heavily on new taxes.” (Felicia Sonmez, “House approves three-week government funding measure, sending it on to Senate,” Washington Post’s 2chambers Blog, 3/15/11)

Despite this, the Democrats still lack a coherent plan to make meaningful cuts to the record deficit:

“When President Barack Obama opened the first meeting of his fiscal commission last April, he promised to be ‘standing with them’ as they produced recommendations for curbing the nation’s escalating debt. Republicans and Democrats say they are still waiting.” (Carrie Budoff Brown, “Obama lies low in deficit debate,” Politico, 3/14/11)

If Dan Boren wants to demonstrate a commitment to reducing the debt burden on future generations and creating jobs for Oklahoma, he can start by encouraging his Democrat leaders to put forward an actual plan to make meaningful budget cuts and encourage private sector job creation. So far, like the Democrat leadership he takes his orders from, Boren has failed to step up and lead.

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