HERITAGE ACTION POSITION: NO

Vote Description

The budget agreement crafted by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) would lift the discretionary spending caps to $1.012 trillion in 2014 and $1.014 trillion in 2015 and increase revenues through an assortment of tax increases (which are labeled fees) in exchange for promises of future spending reductions.

Heritage Action Position

The deal represents an immediate increase in federal spending — $63 billion over the next two years. This is a significant achievement for President Obama, who believes that government spending is a panacea to America’s economic woes.The deal also relies upon promises of future cuts to offset the immediate spending increases. Amazingly, negotiators moved roughly a third of the deficit reduction ($28 billion in cuts) to 2022. By increasing spending, increasing fees and offering up another round of promises waiting to be broken, the deal represents a step backwards.