Portman issues statement on opposition to budget deal

On Friday, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) released the following statement on his vote against the Bipartisan Budget Act:
 
“While I appreciate House and Senate leaders’ efforts on this budget deal, I was not able to support it. This was an opportunity to do something about the underlying problem of our $18 trillion debt, and this deal does not accomplish that. The debt limit debate has traditionally been the only effective way to get unsustainable spending under control, including Gramm-Rudman in 1985 and the more recent Budget Control Act. The debt limit must be raised and default must be avoided, but adding more debt in the process makes no sense. This deal increases spending, uses budget gimmicks to try to cover up the costs, and kicks the can down the road on the issue of America’s soaring debt.
 

[[In-content Ad]]“I am also disappointed that my measures to strengthen this deal and help Ohioans were not adopted. I filed my End Government Shutdowns Act as an amendment to end the practice of governing by crisis through last minute appropriations deals that don’t address our spending. Additionally, I filed my Pension Accountability Act, critical legislation for tens of thousands of Ohioans who are facing pension cuts. It is disappointing that these bills aren’t included in the final deal, but I will continue to work for their passage.
 
“At the same time, I am pleased that the bill includes a provision to shield Ohioans from a Medicare Part B premium increase that could have been as high as 50 percent for some beneficiaries, and I appreciate the effort to shore up the Social Security Disability Insurance program.
 
“We need to address the crisis to help grow our economy and create more and better jobs right here at home. This is about the future our kids will inherit, and I will continue to work to fix our debt crisis.”
 
Portman offered his End Government Shutdowns Act and Pension Accountability Act as amendments to this deal. The measures were not adopted.