Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson, a senior Member on the House Budget Committee, joined his Republican colleagues in passing H.R. 2560, the Cut, Cap, and Balance Act of 2011.  It passed 234-190. 

H.R. 2560 responds directly to the budget and debt crisis facing our nation by curtailing out-of-control spending and reducing the size of the deficit through three mechanisms:

• Immediate Cuts – It cuts discretionary spending for fiscal year 2012 at $30 billion below the current spending levels.
• Long Term Caps – It caps annual federal spending at 19.9% of U.S. gross domestic product by 2021 which would force sharp spending cutbacks in coming years.
• Balanced Budget – It allows for an increase in the debt limit only after both the House and the Senate have passed a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution and sent it to the 50 states.

“House Republicans are committed to bringing spending under control and brining the size of the federal government back to its historic size following years of growth and bloat.  H.R. 2560 does just that,” said Simpson. “This plan, along with the House FY2012 Budget Resolution, stand in stark contrast to what President Obama and congressional Democrats have to this point offered as their solutions – nothing.”

Congressman Simpson is an original cosponsor of H.J.Res. 2, a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, which he has cosponsored every session since he came to Congress.