Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today joined Chairman Paul Ryan in passing the Fiscal Year(FY) 2015 House Budget Resolution. This is the fourth straight year the House Republicans have passed a budget since taking the majority. The bill is the only proposal that lays out a path to a balanced budget in ten years and ultimately eliminates the national debt by fundamentally reforming mandatory spending programs, expanding opportunities for economic growth, and curtailing spending.  H.Con.Res. 96 passed 219-205.

The resolution, H.Con.Res. 96, would cut spending by $5.1 trillion over the next ten years while mandating an overall spending cap in line with the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 at $1.014 trillion for FY 2015.

“The national debt, currently at more than $17.5 trillion, is the biggest threat to our country and the biggest damper on the economy. This plan would put us on a path to solve it,” said Simpson, who is chairman of the Energy and Water Subcommittee on Appropriations. “It also shows the American people that House Republicans are going to take on the biggest challenges facing our country and offer our solutions.”

President Obama’s budget, released last month, spends more than last winter’s Bipartisan Budget Resolution allowed, breaking the cap put in place by Republicans and Democrats.  In addition, it never balances the budget.  The Senate Democrats have already indicated they do not plan to take up a budget resolution this year.

“I hope the opponents of this bill, particularly the Senate Democrats, would offer up their own budget - something they have done only once in the last five years,” added Simpson.