OFA PA Statement of Fiscal Responsibility Commission

From the inbox:

Elizabeth Lucas, Organizing for America (OFA)-Pennsylvania State Director, issued the following statement after President Obama today signed an executive order establishing the bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform:

“Today’s announcement is just another example of the President’s willingness to work across party lines to tackle the tough issues facing Americans and Pennsylvanians. For far too long, Washington has ignored the looming financial problems while putting off tough economic choices. And as President Obama promised, and is delivering, those times are over.

"Pennsylvanians know full well that we must deal with our nations long-term fiscal problems in a bipartisan way – and this Commission does just that. This Commission created today is just part of the President’s greater efforts to grow our economy and cut wasteful spending that for nearly a decade has put Pennsylvania and this nation in the current financial mess we find ourselves in. With this type of pragmatic and steady leadership by the President, we are currently in a better position to fully accomplish his goal of economic recovery.”

The bipartisan commission was created today after President Obama signed an executive order creating the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. The President appointed former White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles and former Republican Senator Alan Simpson of Wyoming to chair the commission. The commission will have 18 members, including the two co-chairs. President Obama will appoint four additional members, and Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress will each appoint six members.

In the near-term, the Commission will propose recommendations to put the budget in primary balance by 2015, while also looking for ways to put our nation on a path to fiscal responsibility.