Johanns Calls for Serious Budget-Cutting Work

March 9, 2011 WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) today called on his Senate colleagues to set aside partisanship and work toward a long-term solution to our country’s record high debt and deficit. As expected, two bills to fund the government failed in the Senate today. Johanns expressed an interest in moving beyond messaging to the real work of balancing the budget. “We need to move forward in a bipartisan manner and find a way to reduce spending that makes sense for the country and makes real progress toward balancing our budget. It will now take the collective work of all Members of Congress and the President to prevent our debt from becoming an economic crisis. The future fiscal health of the country is on the line.” The first government funding bill, which Johanns supported, was passed in the House of Representatives last month and would have cut $57 billion from the federal budget. The second bill, which Johanns voted against, was offered by Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and would have cut a mere $4.7 billion.