President’s Budget Is Promising Step to Fiscal Sanity in Washington

WASHINGTON – Republican Study Committee (RSC) Chairman Mark Walker (R-N.C.) released the following statement in response to President Trump's budget:

"President Trump's budget begins the process of undoing the reckless fiscal policies of the previous administration," said RSC Chairman Mark Walker. "The president's budget rolls back the costly administrative state and promises to reform government to make it more responsible, effective and efficient for the American people."

"The Republican Study Committee has long advocated many of the president's proposed spending cuts and program eliminations that appropriately reprioritize government spending. Many substantial elements of the president's budget are represented in previous RSC budgets," Walker added.

"In the coming weeks, the Republican Study Committee will release its budget that balances within ten years without tax increases – an official position the RSC adopted two months ago and a standard the House Budget Committee should meet with its budget. The RSC budget will also protect the most vulnerable among us by reforming entitlement programs to put them on a path toward solvency. If we don't take needed action," Walker warned, "older Americans who rely on Social Security and Medicare will face immediate benefit cuts that threaten their health and retirement security."

"Nonetheless, writing a budget is not enough. Republicans have been presented an opportunity to return to a responsible fiscal path and ensure a promising future for the American people. Congressional committees should write the corresponding legislation, and we should work with urgency to pass these important reforms into law. This is a rare opportunity that we must seize," Walker concluded. "The president's budget is a promising first step in that process."

The Republican Study Committee adopted an official position on the fiscal year 2018 budget resolution on January 24, 2017:

"The FY18 Budget Resolution must reach balance within the ten-year window by reducing the size and scope of government and without tax increases, and remain in balance thereafter in order to save important programs like Social Security and Medicare. Further, House Committees should take steps to produce legislation to implement that budget within the 115th Congress."

The RSC Chairman takes an official position on an issue when RSC Steering Committee members, the RSC's governing board, recommends it by a two-thirds majority vote.

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