Washington

Congressman Jim Gerlach (PA-6th District) said Wednesday that the U.S. House of Representatives has taken a huge step forward in halting the runaway spending contributing to record-high budget deficits.

The Congressman voted for a measure (H. Res 38) limiting spending levels on items not related to public safety and national security to 2008 levels for the remainder of the current fiscal year, which runs through September. This common sense resolution passed by a 256-165 margin, receiving the support of 17 Democrats, including Reps. Jason Altmire and Tim Holden of Pennsylvania.

“Insisting that the federal government live within its means is critical to helping revive the jobs market and preventing even more debt from being piled on to our children and grandchildren,” Gerlach said. “We really do not have a choice. We must stop the spending habbits that have led to a budget deficit that will top $1.7 trillion this year alone. Otherwise, we risk prolonging the devestating jobs drought and moving closer to the financial chaos that has engulfed Greece, Ireland and several other European allies.”

Read the full release here.