Budgets are about priorities. They list what we care about, and in dollar amounts, they quantify how much we care. As an annual framework for federal spending and revenue levels, the budget helps chart a path toward fiscal responsibility and the overall health of our economy.  Like so many Americans, I am amazed that Congress – more often than not – chooses to run the country on short-term, haphazard budgets. Our businesses and communities cannot afford such unsustainable practices. 

As a member of the Senate Budget Committee, I have been committed to working with my colleagues - from both sides of the aisle - to find solutions that chart a serious and credible path to broad-based economic growth. I have prioritized taking an evenhanded approach to budgeting, reversing sequestration cuts and their harmful effects, and establishing a smarter, more functional budget process. Responsibly confronting our long-term fiscal challenges will require a balanced approach that allows for responsible, targeted cuts to domestic discretionary spending programs; increases in new revenue; and reforms that slow the growth in programs like Medicare and Medicaid – without compromising the quality in care.