Sen. Carper Extols Gang of Six Deficit Reduction Proposal

WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) commended the deficit reduction proposal introduced by the ‘Gang of Six,’ – Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.), Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Tom Coburn (R-Okla.). Sen. Carper’s statement on the proposal follows:

“I am greatly encouraged by today’s release of the Gang of Six’s comprehensive deficit reduction proposal, which builds upon many of the ideas put forth by President Obama’s bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, which was co-chaired by former Republican Senator Alan Simpson and President Clinton’s former Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles.

“This is a thoughtful, balanced plan that begins to rein in our massive federal debt and deficit without abandoning those who need help the most, and it merits very serious consideration. It is the culmination of months of painstaking bipartisan negotiations, and I commend my colleagues for their dedication and perseverance in putting together this package of spending reductions and revenue increases.

“Just as heartening as the plan itself is the fact that almost half of my Senate colleagues, from both sides of the aisle, joined me in participating in the Gang of Six’s presentation of their plan. I have long said that one of the best things those of us in government can do to help create jobs and encourage short and long-term economic growth is to pass a serious and effective deficit reduction plan. It appears that this proposal would help us do just that by demonstrating that we can still govern in this country and provide the predictability that both large and small businesses need.

“As the bipartisan negotiations to reduce the deficit and raise the debt ceiling continue between Congressional leaders and the President, I remain hopeful that we will be able to enact a comprehensive, long-term deficit reduction plan that starts to get our fiscal house in order and gives businesses more of the certainty they need to create jobs here at home.”

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