WASHINGTON (July 19, 2011)—Today Congressman Chandler announced his strong support of a Blue Dog Coalition balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution which will rein in federal spending and protect Medicare and Social Security.  However, Chandler voted against H.R. 2560, the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act, today because it would endanger the Medicare and Social Security programs.

“American families stick to a budget, so should the federal government,” Chandler said, “but I refuse to be part of this new effort to destroy Medicare and Social Security.  That is why I support the Blue Dog balanced budget amendment, which not only balances the federal budget but also protects programs like Social Security.”

Although supporters of H.R. 2560 claim the bill protects Social Security and Medicare, this legislation uses legislative and budget tricks to attack these programs and force the country to adopt policies similar to the radical Republican budget proposal.

H.R. 2560 would:
•    End the Medicare guarantee for Kentucky seniors
•    Result in the loss of 700,000 jobs in the weak economy (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities)
•    Protect $800 billion in tax loopholes for big oil companies, billionaires and multinational corporations that ship jobs overseas, allowing them to avoid paying the taxes they already owe
•    Make it easier to cut Medicare and Social Security (simple majority of Congress) but will make it harder to repeal tax loopholes (2/3 majority of Congress)

Read more about the Republican budget

Chandler is a co-sponsor of the Blue Dog balanced budget amendment, H.J. Res 10, to rein in federal spending. H.J. Res 10 amends the U.S. Constitution to mandate balancing the federal budget.  The Blue Dog Coalition, a group of fiscally conservative Democrats, endorsed this amendment which was originally introduced by Representative Henry Cuellar (TX-28).
 

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