Pocan on GOP Budget: “Does Not Reflect Wisconsin Values”

WASHINGTON—U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02), a member of the House of Representatives Committee on the Budget, today commented on the budget released by committee chairman Rep. Paul Ryan (WI-01). The Budget Committee is scheduled to consider Ryan’s budget proposal tomorrow.

“I’m a small business owner, and I co-chaired the Joint Finance Committee in the Wisconsin State Assembly. I understand what it means to make tough choices when reviewing a budget. But balancing our budgets on the backs of our seniors and working families is not a tough choice—it’s a reckless and irresponsible choice. Our budgets should reflect our values. And the budget the GOP released today does not reflect Wisconsin values or Wisconsin needs.

“Rep. Ryan and I share Rock County between our two districts, and Rock County has one of the highest unemployment rates in our state. Families in Rock County and across Wisconsin are not strengthened by a budget that locks the irresponsible sequester cuts in place, turns Medicare into a voucher program, and preserves tax cuts for oil companies and corporations that outsource jobs . What they deserve are substantive actions from Congress that can lead to economic growth and long-term job creation.

“I want to work with my colleagues on a budget that responsibly reduces our deficits and maintains a focus on growing our economy. We should strengthen investments in infrastructure, education, and research and development, and ensure our tax code incentivizes companies to create jobs in Wisconsin instead of shipping them overseas. Instead of resorting back to recycled policies that have already been rejected by the public and Congress, we need to focus on ways we can work together to move our economy forward.”

As a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, Rep. Pocan co-chaired the Joint Finance Committee, where he passed a budget during record state deficits that balanced spending cuts with revenue increases while protecting the priorities and services important to the people of Wisconsin.