Washington, D.C. – Today Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore), a member of the Budget Committee, helped pass the FY 2008 Federal Budget Resolution. The Democratic budget proposal, which passed by a vote of 216-210, is not only fiscally responsible but sets the right priorities for America. 

“After the complete breakdown of the budget process in the last Congress, the budget we passed today signals a new direction,” said Congressman Blumenauer. “Last year, the Republicans couldn’t even pass a budget, and failed to approve 9 of 11 appropriations bills. Today, we are moving in a new direction – away from the borrow and spend habits of the previous Congress and towards fiscal responsibility and fairness. The Democratic budget prioritizes the right things; it provides services and tax relief for those who need it most by reforming the AMT and provides tax relief for working families. Our proposal improves access to health care for Oregon’s 100,000 children who lack coverage and restores funding, cut by the President’s budget, for Oregon’s environmental programs.”

The Democratic budget not only enforces fiscal discipline and transparency in federal spending by adhering to Congress’s pay-as-you-go spending rules, but it generates a budget surplus by 2012.  The budget includes funding for critical national programs like children’s health care and education, and prioritizes Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) reform and protecting middle-income tax relief.  The Democratic budget invests in renewable energy and energy efficiency to decrease America’s dependence on foreign oil, reduce global warming, and promote new technologies.

In addition to serving on the Budget Committee, Congressman Blumenauer also serves on the Committee on Ways and Means and the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.