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Feb. 17, 2011
by Andy Marso
Capital News Service
WASHINGTON – With the ink barely dry on various 2012 federal budget proposals, the Maryland congressional delegation began working on shaping the final product this week.
Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Mechanicsville, weighed in on the Republicans’ plan to trim spending; Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Baltimore, called President Obama’s budget proposal “a credible first step,” in need of adjustment; and Rep. Donna Edwards, D-Fort Washington, and Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Frederick, teamed up to push for tax relief for research and manufacturing.
On the House floor Wednesday, Hoyer opposed the Republican-authored continuing resolution bill introduced in the House Appropriations Committee Friday that takes President Obama’s 2011 request and cuts another $100 billion.
“I agree that reducing spending is part of the fiscal solution,” Hoyer said. “But let’s reduce spending wisely, instead of doing it in such a way that costs America jobs. When we talk about cutting investments in education, in innovation, and in infrastructure, we are talking about cutting tomorrow’s jobs.”
Republicans swept into power in the House last November in part by promising to rein in a budget deficit that hit an estimated $1.65 trillion last year. Their budget proposal would cut funding to a host of federal agencies including the Food and Drug Administration, Homeland Security, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development.
