Over the years, Democrats have shown our commitment to restoring fiscal responsibility by taking actions that have reduced deficits while investing in the American people’s priorities. In contrast, Republicans adopted fiscally irresponsible policies that have led to exploding deficits. Republicans jammed their 2017 tax scam through Congress without a single hearing, gifting a massive, unpaid-for tax handout to the wealthiest Americans and large corporations while leaving our nation with ballooning deficits. They have repeatedly held our economy hostage to their ideological agenda, whether creating artificial “fiscal cliffs,” shutting down the government, or bringing our nation to the brink of defaulting on its obligations. With Democratic control of Congress and the White House, the days of manufactured fiscal crises for the purpose of advancing political interests comes to an end.
Years of Republican irresponsibility left our nation ill-prepared to address an emergency of the scale of the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic consequences. Democrats’ first priority is responding to that crisis; once it has passed, and as Democrats work to invest in economic recovery, job creation, and other pressing issues, we will also work to restore sound, long-term fiscal management so future generations can afford to invest in opportunities and securing the American Dream.