Rep. Collin Peterson - Peterson opposes House Republican budget, supports the “Common Sense” Blue Dog budget for Farmers, Veterans, and Rural Heath Care

CONGRESSMAN
COLLIN C. PETERSON

Minnesota - 7th District http://www.house.gov/collinpeterson

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 24, 2000
CONTACT: Rob Larew @ 202-225-2165

Peterson opposes House Republican budget
supports the "Common Sense" Blue Dog budget
for Farmers, Veterans, and Rural Heath Care

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) -- Congressman Collin C. Peterson (DFL-MN 7th District) voted against the House Republican budget bill, which passed the House late Thursday night by the narrow margin of 211 to 207.

"I voted for the Blue Dog Coalition budget, which I helped to write, because it was the only balanced budget proposal offered to the House that protected the Social Security trust fund, paid down the national debt, and made a serious commitment to agriculture, health care, veterans, and education," said Peterson.

According to Peterson, the Blue Dog budget was the most honest choice because it didn’t "play tricks" with the Social Security Trust Fund or the projected budget surpluses.

"The Blue Dog budget makes an immediate down payment on the federal debt that continues, year after year, until it is completely eliminated," said Peterson. "In addition, over the next five years it would have provided $16 billion more to agriculture than the Republican bill."

Peterson serves as the Co-Chairman of the Blue Dog Agriculture and Trade Task Force that wrote the agricultural section of the Blue Dog budget. The proposal calls for an added $26 billion over five years to improve the safety net for farmers and increase conservation payments. Peterson noted that without a significant increase to the budget, the base funding for farm income assistance would drop by more than 2/3 over the next two years.

"The Blue Dog budget for agriculture put the farmer first with the understanding that farming is a risky business and there needs to be a safety net. Our bill started with help for farmers this year and continued that support for the next five years," said Peterson.

The Blue Dog budget also made a significant commitment to veterans and their families. It would have fulfilled the promise to fund the 1999 Veterans Millennium Health Care Act and expand access to health care and prescription drug benefits for military retirees.

"Congress has made too many empty promises to our nation’s veterans and military retirees. The Blue Dog budget would have put money behind the promises, " said Peterson.

The Blue Dog budget also greatly increased funding for health care programs, allowing more money for rural health care programs, health research, and other health care programs without having too make cuts in other programs within these functions."

"All things considered, the Blue Dog budget proposal was in line with the needs and priorities of the Seventh District of Minnesota. It was a balanced budget that paid off the national debt while delivering support for the programs and services that people need."

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