Casey, Toomey Release Statements on Obama Deficit Reduction Speech

U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released the following statement after President Obama’s speech on cutting spending and reducing the debt:

“Government spending and waste must be cut. In the coming months, Congress will debate many proposals and I will closely review the President’s framework announced today. I hope that Congress and the President can have constructive and bipartisan discussions on how government spending and the debt can be cut while ensuring short- and long-term job creation. I also hope that there will be less partisan bickering and more bipartisan consensus in the upcoming budget debates.

“Smart cuts and tax reform are required so we can keep Pennsylvania’s economy growing and create jobs. Pennsylvania working families, children and older citizens who have been hit hard by the recession should not bear the brunt of these cuts. Investments must be made in areas like education and research that will lead to long-term economic growth. And eliminating Medicare as we know it is not the right answer.”

Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) issued the following statement today on President Obama’s speech:

“President Obama still seems to think that the source of prosperity in America is more government. The spending cuts he proposes are insufficient and the tax increases he embraces are counterproductive to the country’s economic recovery and growth. While I’m pleased that he has rhetorically acknowledged the need for spending cuts and deficit reduction, we need more than rhetoric. I hope the president will work with us to enact the kind of fiscally responsible policies we need to put our country on a long-term sustainable path,” Sen. Toomey said.