CRAPO: CONGRESS MUST ADDRESS BUDGET CHALLENGES NOW

Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following statement today on the release of President Bush's budget for Fiscal Year 2009.

"Today, the President unveiled his budget for 2009 and it reflects the difficulties we face in both the short and long term," Crapo said. "The last thing we need to do when faced with a slowing economy in the short term and major entitlement threats in the long term is to raise taxes or spend beyond our means. We have heard for years that the projected growth path for entitlement spending is unsustainable, and we are now facing the first retirements of members of the baby-boom generation. The longer we wait to address these significant challenges, the more difficult it is going to be. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Senate Budget Committee to produce a responsible budget resolution."

To learn more about the President's proposed budget, go to Crapo's website at http://crapo.senate.gov/.