Mel Martinez on Budget & Economy Republican Jr Senator (FL); previously Secretary of H.U.D.

Promote growth and job creation to reduce the deficit

CASTOR: Deficits are a drag on our economy and a burden on our children. I would vote for middle-class tax cuts, but I would not vote to give even more tax cuts to the wealthy while we are facing huge deficits and struggling to pay for a war and other priorities. I would close the loopholes that let powerful corporations get away with sheltering taxes overseas and not paying their fair share. I would fight waste, fraud and abuse in government spending

MARTINEZ: Our budget should reflect this nation's goals and purpose, and advance our three highest priorities. First, America must prevail in the war on terror. Second, we must continue to strengthen our homeland defenses. Third, we must build on the economic recovery that began in earnest in 2003 with policies that further promote growth and job creation. The government must limit discretionary spending growth, focus on the results of government programs, and cut wasteful spending.

Voted YES on paying down federal debt by rating programs' effectiveness.

Proponents recommend voting YES because:

My amendment says we are going to take about $18 billion as a strong signal from the Congress that we want to support effective programs and we want the taxpayer dollars spent in a responsible way. My amendment doesn't take all of the $88 billion for the programs found by PART, realizing there may be points in time when another program is not meeting its goals and needs more money. So that flexibility is allowed in this particular amendment. It doesn't target any specific program. Almost worse than being rated ineffective, we have programs out there that have made absolutely no effort at all to measure their results. I believe these are the worst offenders. In the following years, I hope Congress will look at those programs to create accountability.

Opponents recommend voting NO because:

The effect of this amendment will simply be to cut domestic discretionary spending $18 billion. Understand the programs that have been identified in the PART program are results not proven. Here are programs affected: Border Patrol, Coast Guard search and rescue, high-intensity drug trafficking areas, LIHEAP, rural education, child abuse prevention, and treatment. If there is a problem in those programs, they ought to be fixed. We ought not to be cutting Border Patrol, Coast Guard search and rescue, high-intensity drug trafficking areas, LIHEAP, rural education, and the rest. I urge a "no" vote.

Voted YES on $40B in reduced federal overall spending.