CSE Expresses Mixed Emotions About Senate Budget Resolution

Washington, DC – Today, the Senate passed its FY 2004 budget resolution. While the budget makes a better effort to restrain discretionary spending and lays out a plan to balance the budget as quickly as possible, it is does not contain the amount of tax relief necessary to help grow the economy.

CSE President Paul Beckner expressed mixed emotions:

“This budget is a step in the right direction because it slows the spending growth rate, but we’ve got a long way to go to return the federal government to an appropriate size and scope. With the Senate’s budget, next year the federal government will still be too big and spend far too much.”

“What’s more, sparking faster economic growth is now in question because the Senate did not adopt the full tax cut proposed by the President. Both taxpayers and the economy need the tax relief in the President’s plan to boost economic growth and create jobs.

“On behalf of the 280,000 tax paying members of CSE, I strongly urge leaders in Congress to restore the tax relief to its full amount.”