Chairman's Press
Conrad Statement on 2002 Deficit Announcement
Statement by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND) on the Bush Administration’s Announcement of $159 Billion Deficit for 2002 October 25, 2002The Bush administration has now officially announced that the deficit for 2002 will be $159 billion. This is a sad reminder of how far our nation’s finances have fallen since the Bush administration took office.The sudden return to red ink follows a period of unparalleled fiscal strength and vitality, where we enjoyed four straight years… Continue Reading
10.16.02
Senate Renews Key Budget Enforcement Mechanisms
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 16, 2002Contact: Stu Nagurka (202) 224-7436 Steve Posner (202) 224-7925SENATE RENEWS KEY BUDGET ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMSWashington, DC - The Senate today, by unanimous consent, renewed key budget enforcement mechanisms that expired on September 30. The enforcement mechanisms help to maintain fiscal discipline by making it much more difficult to pass additional tax cuts or spending that are not fully paid for.“This is a victory for fiscal discipline,” said Senate… Continue Reading
08.22.02
Budget Committee Releases New Deficit Estimates
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 22, 2002Contact: Steve Posner (202) 224-7925SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE RELEASES NEW ESTIMATES SHOWING FEDERAL BUDGET DEFICITS WILL BE FAR WORSE THAN ‘ROSY’ PROJECTIONS OF BUSH ADMINISTRATIONWashington, DC - The Senate Budget Committee today released new estimates showing that the level of federal budget deficits over the next ten years will be far worse than projected by the Bush administration last month. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is expected to relea… Continue Reading
05.01.02
Statement on Bush Administration Announcement on Debt Ceiling
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 1, 2002Contact: Stu Nagurka (202) 224-7436 Steve Posner (202) 224-7925STATEMENT BY SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN KENT CONRAD (D-ND) ON BUSH ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCEMENT ON DEBT CEILINGToday we received the sobering news from the Treasury Department that we will again reach the debt limit much sooner than anticipated. This comes on the heels of Treasury’s announcement that we will have to borrow more than expected to pay the government’s bills and to pay for the… Continue Reading
04.18.02
Statement on House Vote to Make Tax Cut Permanent
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 18, 2002Contact: Stu Nagurka (202) 224-7436 Steve Posner (202) 224-7925Statement by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad, D-ND, on House Republican Vote to Make Bush Tax Cut PermanentIt is hard to imagine a more fiscally irresponsible move than to permanently extend all of the Bush tax cut without paying for it. This Republican effort, which would overwhelmingly benefit the wealthiest, would cost an additional $400 billion this decade - every penny of it … Continue Reading
03.19.02
Overview of Senate Democratic Budget Resolution
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 20, 2002Contact: Stu Nagurka (202) 224-7436 Steve Posner (202) 224-7925Democrats’ Budget Plan Would Strengthen America and Safeguard Our Future Summary The Senate Democratic budget resolution for fiscal year 2003 faces up to the challenges of strengthening America and safeguarding our future. • Strengthening homeland security. The plan provides all of the resources requested by the President for homeland security. • Building our national defense. The plan ens… Continue Reading
02.13.02
Committee Again Rejects Suspension of Budget Enforcement Mechanisms
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 13, 2002Contact: Stu Nagurka (202) 224-7436 Steve Posner (202) 224-7925SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE AGAIN REJECTS SUSPENSION OF BUDGET ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS Conrad Calls on Senate to Defeat Measure When it Comes to FloorWashington, DC - The Senate Budget Committee today, by a 22 to 0 vote, has again rejected the suspension of budget enforcement mechanisms. As it did last November, the Budget Committee has sent a joint resolution to the Senate floor calling for th… Continue Reading
01.31.02
Statement by Daschle, Conrad, and Levin on CBO Report on Missile Defense
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, January 31, 2002Contact: Ranit Schmelzer (Daschle) (202) 224-2939 Stu Nagurka (Conrad) 224-7436 Tara Andringa (Levin) (202) 224-6221STATEMENT BY SENATORS DASCHLE, CONRAD, AND LEVIN ON THE NEW CBO REPORT SHOWING THAT NATIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE COULD COST OVER $150 BILLIONFollowing is a statement from Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad, and Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin regarding the CBO's new cost estimat… Continue Reading
01.29.02
Budget Committee Chairman Seeks Return to Fiscal Discipline
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 29, 2002Contact: Stu Nagurka (202) 224-7436 Steve Posner (202) 224-7925SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN SEEKS RETURN TO FISCAL DISCIPLINE Conrad: Long-Term Budget Outlook Worsened by Bush Tax CutWashington, DC - Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad, D-ND, today said the sharp drop in the projected surplus - caused largely by the Bush tax cut - poses a serious threat to the nation’s long-term budget outlook and its ability to meet the retirement and hea… Continue Reading
01.24.02
Conrad Welcomes Fed Chairman's Call for Trigger Mechanism
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 24, 2002Contact: Stu Nagurka (202) 224-7436 Steve Posner (202) 224-0642SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN WELCOMES FED CHAIRMAN’S CALL FOR TRIGGER MECHANISM Conrad: Trigger Could Help Restore Long-Term Fiscal DisciplineWashington, DC - Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad today welcomed Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan’s suggestion that Congress should implement some sort of trigger mechanism to limit tax and spending initiatives in light of deple… Continue Reading
01.23.02
Bush Sends Nation Back Into Deficits
EMBARGOED UNTIL 10:00 AM January 23, 2002Contact: Stu Nagurka (202) 224-7436 Steve Posner (202) 224-7925BUSH SENDS NATION BACK INTO DEFICITS CBO Projects $4.0 Trillion Drop in Surplus and Deficits for Next Two YearsWashington, DC - The Congressional Budget Office today released new projections showing a $4.0 trillion drop in the surplus and confirming that the nation will face deficits for the next two years. The new budget figures, released by CBO Director Dan Crippen in testimony before … Continue Reading
11.08.01
Committee Rejects Suspension of Budget Enforcement Mechanisms
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 8, 2001 Contact: Stu Nagurka (202) 224-7436 Steve Posner (202) 224-7925 SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE REJECTS SUSPENSION OF BUDGET ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS Conrad Urges Senate to Defeat Fiscally Irresponsible Measure Washington, DC - The Senate Budget Committee has rejected the suspension of budget enforcement mechanisms for the next two years. As required by the Balanced Budget Act, the Committee has sent a joint resolution to the Senate floor, but the Committee, vo… Continue Reading
10.25.01
Conrad Warns Against Abandoning Long-term Discipline as Stimulus Considered
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 25, 2001 Contact: Stu Nagurka (202) 224-7436 Steve Posner (202) 224-7925 SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN CONRAD WARNS AGAINST ABANDONING LONG-TERM FISCAL DISCIPLINE AS CONGRESS CONSIDERS STIMULUS BILL Washington, DC - Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad today stressed the importance of maintaining long-term fiscal discipline as Congress considers legislation to stimulate the economy. Conrad's remarks came as the Budget Committee heard testimony at a … Continue Reading
10.02.01
Conrad Calls for Short-term Stimulus to be Coupled with Long-term Discipline
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 2, 2001 Contact: Stu Nagurka (202) 224-7436 Steve Posner (202) 224-7925 SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN CONRAD CALLS FOR SHORT-TERM STIMULUS PLAN TO BE COUPLED WITH LONG-TERM FISCAL DISCIPLINE Washington, DC - Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad today said that any short-term stimulus plan must be matched with long-term budgetary restraint. Conrad?s remarks came as the Budget Committee heard testimony on the nation?s economic outlook from Glenn Hubb… Continue Reading
09.06.01
Conrad Calls on Bush for Plan to Protect Soc. Sec. & Medicare Trust Funds
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 6, 2001 Contact: Stu Nagurka (202) 224-7436 Steve Posner (202) 224-7925 SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN CALLS ON BUSH ADMINISTRATION TO PROVIDE PLAN TO PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE TRUST FUNDS Conrad: Bush Budget Wipes Out Surplus; Threatens Trust Funds Washington, DC - Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND) today called on the Bush Administration to provide a plan to protect the Social Security and Medicare trust funds. Conrad's reque… Continue Reading
09.04.01
Conrad Warns of Long-term Damage from President Bush's Budget and Tax Plan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 4, 2001 Contact: Stu Nagurka or Steve Posner (202) 224-0642 SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN WARNS OF LONG-TERM DAMAGE FROM PRESIDENT BUSH'S BUDGET AND TAX PLAN Conrad: CBO August Update Confirms Bush Plan Never Added Up Washington, DC - One week after the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) issued its report about the vanishing budget surplus and just hours after members of Congress returned from their August recess, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conr… Continue Reading
08.02.01
Chairman Conrad Says Social Security Reform Endangered by Bush Tax Cut
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 2, 2001Contact: Stu Nagurka (202) 224-7436 Steve Posner (202) 224-7925SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN SAYS SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM ENDANGERED BY BUSH TAX CUT Conrad: Resources Needed for Reform No Longer Available; Trust Fund Surpluses at RiskWashington, DC - Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad today said that the Bush tax cut has endangered the prospects for Social Security reform by wiping out resources that should have been used to fund transition c… Continue Reading
07.18.01
Conrad Calls on Administration To Explain How It Plans to Pay for Defense Increase
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 18, 2001Contact: Stu Nagurka or Steve Posner (202) 224-0642CONRAD CALLS ON BUSH ADMINISTRATION TO EXPLAIN HOW IT PLANS TO PAY FOR DEFENSE INCREASE WITHOUT USING MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUNDSWashington, DC - Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad today called on the Bush Administration to explain how it plans to pay for its requested increase in defense spending without using the Medicare and Social Security Trust Funds. Conrad's remarks came as t… Continue Reading
07.12.01
Conrad Seeks Admin.'s Plan to Avoid Raiding Medicare & Soc. Security Trust Funds
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 12, 2001Contact: Stu Nagurka or Steve Posner (202) 224-0642SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIR SEEKS ADMINISTRATION'S PLAN TO AVOID RAIDING THE MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUNDS Conrad: Bush Tax Cut & Economic Downturn Causing RaidWashington, DC - Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad today invited the Bush Administration to present its plan on how it intends to avoid raiding the Medicare and Social Security Trust Funds next year and the years beyond. Co… Continue Reading
06.28.01
Shrinking Budget Surplus Threatens Medicare & Social Security Trust Funds
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 28, 2001Contact: Stu Nagurka or Steve Posner (202) 224-0642SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIR SAYS SHRINKING BUDGET SURPLUS THREATENS MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUNDS Conrad: Bush Tax Cut Jeopardizing Defense Needs & Other PrioritiesWashington, DC - Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad today said that the Bush tax cut is eating up so much of the projected budget surplus that it will likely force considerable raids on the Medicare and Social Security Tr… Continue Reading
