Washington, D.C. - With new projections that the federal deficit under the Democrat-controlled Congress will balloon to $482 billion in 2009, the highest in American history and more than triple the deficit left by Republicans in the last year they controlled Congress ($162 billion in fiscal year 2007), U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady released the following statement:

“If Republicans spent like drunken sailors than Democrats have binged to a whole new level – tripling the federal budget in only two years,” said Brady. “The numbers don’t lie. So much for Democrats posturing as the party of fiscal discipline.”

“When it comes to balancing the budget the problem isn’t that Washington needs more money. The problem is that it can’t control spending and this new Democratic Congress is absolutely out of control.”

For example, in the past month the Democratic House has passed legislation that authorizes $75 million in new federal programs to protect exotic cats and dogs in foreign countries, protect six species of rare cranes overseas and to prevent monkeys from traveling across state lines in the United States. Last week the Democratic House voted to ignore the law that insists Congress act to preserve Medicare when funding imbalances reaches unsustainable levels.

To rein in federal government spending and to force Congress to reduce waste, Brady has proposed a three-point fiscal plan including:

- A spending cap on the federal budget so that spending can’t outpace the cost of living;
- A federal Sunset Law to abolish obsolete federal agencies and eliminate duplication among federal programs;
- A one year moratorium on earmarks to reform and reduce the number of local project requests.
 

Brady has championed the sunset bill since he was first elected to Congress. He was one of the first members of Congress to publish his requests for public review. This year he reduced his requests by 75%, requested no new earmarks and co-sponsored legislating calling for a moratorium while Congress reforms the practice that has led to abuse.