WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) today voted in favor of moving the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act closer to passage.  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) tabled the bill, but Wicker and Senate Republicans voted to oppose Reid’s motion.  Wicker is a co-sponsor of the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act, which passed the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

“Federal spending is out of control, and to solve the problem, we should begin by cutting spending and balancing our budget,” said Wicker.  “The Cut, Cap, and Balance Act could be an important step to address our fiscal crisis.  The President and Senate Democrats continue to stand in the way of solutions without offering any public proposals of their own.  The debt stands at more than $14 trillion.  Failing to address our overspending now will put the burden on our children and grandchildren.”

The Cut, Cap, and Balance Act, S. 1340, would reduce spending and caps federal expenditures for future budgets.  Non-defense discretionary spending would be cut to 2006 levels in 2012 and frozen for the next seven years.  In addition, the bill requires passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment, which Wicker also co-sponsored.

A recent CNN poll found 66 percent of Americans supported the Cut, Cap, and Balance approach.  However, Reid dismissed the bill, which passed the House with bi-partisan support, calling it the “worst legislation in the history of this country” on Thursday according to press reports.

Yesterday, Wicker authored an Op-Ed highlighting the importance of a Balanced Budget Amendment in the Daily Journal, which can be found here.  Wicker recently spoke on the Senate Floor about the importance of cutting spending and a Balanced Budget Amendment.  Those comments can be found here. 

A summary of the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act can be found here.

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