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Spratt Statement on CBO Summer Budget Outlook

WASHINGTON -- House Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt (D-SC) issued the following statement in reaction to the release today of the Congressional Budget Office's (CBO's) "The Budget and Economic Outlook: An Update."

"While any improvement in the deficit forecast is welcome news, the long-term fiscal picture is still troubling. CBO now estimates that fiscal year 2007 will post a deficit of $158 billion and that fiscal year 2008 will post a deficit of $155 billion. Meanwhile, the President's budget continues to advocate more of the same policies that created these deficits.

My visit to the Gulf Coast areas devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 was paradoxical, both encouraging and discouraging at times. What initially struck me on our tour was the lack of action and support by the federal government in the first year and a half following the disaster.

Whatever improvements in security that may have resulted from the efforts of our troops since the surge began, Iraqi leaders have not done the hard political work on which the future of their country depends. And therefore, the purpose of the surge -- to enable the Iraqis to produce political reconciliation -- has not been accomplished. That is the standard against which Congress and the American people will judge the White House report of September 15.

I was heartened by this second anniversary trip to the Hurricane affected region along the Gulf Coast. Last year the Democratic Caucus went down to Louisiana and Mississippi to hear from the people and determine where needs still existed.

"President Bush attempted again today to draw parallels between Iraq and past wars to earn support for his policy in Iraq. Unfortunately, the President seems only to look at what reinforces his failing strategy rather than draw the most important lessons from past conflicts.

"The President's escalation only works if the Iraqi government uses the breathing space created by American soldiers' sweat and blood to meet the political goals that are essential to creating a stable nation. Six months into the surge, the Maliki government has not done so, and even the Bush Administration is expressing doubts that they will move forward.

SCHIP has provided millions of children with quality health insurance, and has earned broad bipartisan support. Yet now the Bush Administration is imposing restrictions that will cause more children to be uninsured.

In Congress, we are working to do the opposite - to expand health insurance for America's children and ensure they have the opportunity for a bright future. We encourage the President to join us in these efforts.