Senator Bob Corker called the passage of the budget resolution a first step toward getting the federal budget under control.
He said, “There’s no dispute that Washington’s inability to reduce our nation’s staggering debt and solve our long-term fiscal problems is hurting the standard of living of Americans.
“Passing a budget framework sets an important foundation, but only bipartisan action on meaningful reforms will stand the test of time. While this budget is far from perfect, I am pleased the Senate has taken this first step, and I stand ready to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who are serious about addressing our nation’s fiscal challenges.”
Senator Lamar Alexander said, “I voted for the Senate budget resolution because it is a long-overdue starting point to bring the federal government’s $18 trillion debt under control. Senate Republicans have put forth a budget that balances in 10 years without raising taxes, and that takes some initial steps at slowing the growth of out-of-control mandatory entitlement spending.
“We still have more work to do – governing is about setting priorities, and the federal debt is not the result of overspending on the military, highways or cancer research. We need to protect these priorities and pass a plan like the Fiscal Sustainability Act Sen. Corker and I introduced last Congress to slow the growth of entitlement spending by nearly $1 trillion over 10 years.”
Senator Alexander also said, "Mandatory spending – which includes out-of-control entitlement spending that is driving the growth in the federal debt – made up about 60 percent of overall federal spending in 2014. Discretionary spending – the part of the budget that is already subject to spending caps under the Budget Control Act – made up about 34 percent of federal spending in 2014 and funds national defense, national labs, national parks and other federal priorities."