Congressman Dennis Cardoza
18th Congressional District of California

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Cardoza joined fellow members of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition in releasing the Blue Dog Blueprint for Fiscal Reform, a 10-year plan aimed at cutting federal spending and balancing the budget. 

“For the last eight years, I have traveled my district talking to various civic organizations and constituents about the need for fiscal responsibility and the need to get our fiscal house in order,” said Congressman Cardoza. “Last year we had to take aggressive measures to prevent a complete economic collapse. Those were difficult choices and were made after the nation’s top economists warned that we were heading toward a complete economic collapse. It is imperative that we now act equally aggressively in restoring the fiscal health of the federal government.”

The Blue Dog Blueprint includes 15 specific legislative proposals and reforms aimed at balancing the budget in 10 years and stabilizing the national debt. Key to the reform is PAYGO, or “Pay-As-You-Go” spending, a requirement that no federal spending or tax cuts may increase the deficit. It also calls for a constitutional amendment requiring the President to submit a balanced budget each year. This balanced budget amendment would prohibit budgeting outlays, or expenditures, from exceeding total incoming receipts starting in 2020.

Congressman Cardoza is also considering additional legislation that he may separately introduce.

“I remain committed to fiscal responsibility,” said Congressman Cardoza. “Even in these difficult times – with two wars and the continuing economic crisis – I firmly believe we must take steps to ensure the long-term financial health of the federal government and our country so we do not pass our debt onto our children and grandchildren.”