Congressman Becerra believes that "budgets speak to our values and priorities," and has worked throughout his career to advocate for the budget priorities shared by the American people.

However, at a time when there's no more painful deficit than the jobs deficit, the budget plan passed by House Republicans in 2013 would eliminate 2 million American jobs next year alone. We should be rebuilding the middle class and laying the foundation for long-term economic growth, but this proposal would cut taxes for the wealthiest Americans and stick working families with the bill. And when we have promised our seniors a secure and healthy retirement, their plan would end the Medicare guarantee.

Congressman Becerra supports the House Democratic budget proposal, which would create a million new jobs, make key investments to move our economy forward now and over the long term, and protect the dignity and well-being of America's seniors. It takes a responsible approach to eliminating arbitrary, across-the-board cuts to programs and reducing the deficit without leaving any American behind.

Congressman Becerra also believes Republicans need to stop budget brinkmanship and stop playing politics with our economic recovery and the full faith and credit of the United States.  Congress should get back to our work growing the economy, creating jobs and rebuilding the middle class.

Causes of Federal Budget Deficits

President George W. Bush walked into the White House with a projected $5.6 trillion ten-year surplus in 2001. Eight years later, he left President Barack Obama with a projected $8 trillion ten-year deficit.

As the chart below shows, the bulk of the budget deficits projected over the next decade can be traced to the Bush-era tax cuts, the unfunded wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the current economic downturn (prepared by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities):