Amador County – Congressman Dan Lungren (R-Gold River) joined the vote in the House of Representative Tuesday to pass the “Cut, Cap and Balance Act of 2011,” which Lungren said is a vote to “remedy the nation’s debt problem.” Lungren staffer Brian Kaveney said Lungren “voted in favor of legislation that will address the nation’s colossal debt burden, out of control government spending and take action on the debt ceiling.”

House of Representatives Bill 2560, the Cut, Cap and Balance Act, passed the House Tuesday on a 234-190 vote. The Bill was introduced by Utah Rep. Chaffetz (R-District 3), and had 117 co-sponsors, according to a Library of Congress summary.

Kaveney said the Bill “is a serious response to a serious problem. House Republicans have put forth a proposal to the President’s request for a debt limit increase while achieving serious spending cuts, binding budget reforms, and putting in place a balanced budget amendment.”

Lungren released a statement Tuesday saying: “Tonight my colleagues and I proposed a plan that will ensure we don’t continue to kick the debt can down the road. Our nation’s current debt burden will crush us if left un-checked.”

Lungren said: “This is not about election politics, it is about the future of our children and grandchildren. The fundamental question facing the Congress is a clear one. Will we leave them saddled with a burdensome mountain of debt or will we have the courage to leave them a country where they have the same opportunities for success enjoyed by previous generations of Americans?”

H.R. 2560 cuts total spending by $111 billion in fiscal year 2012. The savings reduce non-security discretionary spending below 2008 levels, which saves $76 billion. It also has a $35 billion cut to non-veterans, non-Medicare, non-Social Security mandatory spending. It also cuts the defense budget at President’s level.

Total federal spending is scaled back in the Bill based on a “glide path” with, caps of spending between 19 and 22 percent of the Gross Domestic Product over a 10-year schedule.

The “balance” aspect of the bill requires the passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment before raising the nation’s debt limit. Also, it includes that a debt ceiling increase, requested by the President, is allowed but contingent on a qualifying Balanced Budget Amendment being passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.