"The $3.8 trillion federal budget released by the White House today is historic in size and ignores our growing debt obligation that will burden the next generation. This budget contains billions of dollars in new spending and higher taxes for American families and businesses. The American people are fed up with the level of spending and growing debt coming out of Washington. It is time we stop passing on the responsibility to our children and grandchildren, and make the tough decisions necessary to get our spending habits under control."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Samantha Smith - (336) 331 - 3219

WINSTON-SALEM - The Richard Burr for U.S. Senate Campaign today announced that strong support continues as the campaign raised $1.2 million in contributions this quarter, bringing the total cash on hand to $4.3 million.

The campaign has received consistent and strong support as Senator Burr's commitment to cutting spending, creating jobs, and finding sensible solutions for health care reform resonates with North Carolinians.

Click here to download the 4th Quarter FEC Summary.

With Americans disgusted by our growing debt, out of control spending, and non-existent job creation, the President's main priority needs to be turning our economy around. While the President's call for a spending freeze is an important first step, the devil is in the details. This proposal falls extremely short of what the American people demand - a smaller, less expensive federal government. We need to move further and make actual cuts if we are truly serious about reversing Washington's spending habits.

In regards to health care reform, I applaud the President's willingness to listen to competing solutions. However, only his actions and leadership will allow those solutions to be part of the debate.

Last week, the Senate reconvened in Washington and debated a bill to increase our national debt limit by almost $2 trillion. Right now, our gross national debt is over $12 trillion. If this bill is passed, it would increase it to $14.3 trillion. I cannot support a bill that will drive our nation and our future generations further into debt.

In order to restore fiscal accountability to the federal government, I voted last Thursday to end the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program, known as TARP, which was designed to assist troubled banks, financial institutions and automakers, but now may be used to fund new spending initiatives. Unfortunately, the amendment, which I co-sponsored with Senator John Thune (R-SD), failed by a vote of 53-45. The amendment would have prohibited the Treasury Department from using TARP funds for spending purposes and require all returned TARP funds be used to lower our national debt.

The federal government is already borrowing more than 40 cents on every dollar we spend. We simply cannot keep spending like this. Extending the government's ability to borrow money will only encourage, not reign in, federal spending. I will continue to fight this kind of fiscal irresponsibility in Washington and offer alternative avenues to control spending.

On Tuesday, the voters of Massachusetts elected Republican Scott Brown to the U.S. Senate, and in doing so sent a loud and clear message - the people of America are serious about turning around our country.

After a year of big spending, corporate takeovers by the federal government, a merciless push for a government-run health care system, higher taxes and saddling Americans with a massive deficit, the Obama honeymoon is over. The first round of the 2010 elections has resulted in a great victory for America with the election of Scott Brown.

Now, Harry Reid will not have 60 votes to ram through his agenda. Now, Democrats running for re-election this fall in swing districts and swing states will think twice before automatically casting their vote with the House and Senate leadership. Now, Americans have hope that we will put our country back on the right track.

I am excited about welcoming Scott Brown to the Senate as soon as he can be seated. This is truly a case of how much difference one single vote can make as the debate on health care reform continues.

"My heart goes out to the people of Haiti and all those affected by this devastating earthquake. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and the rescue workers searching through the destruction and risking their own safety to save others. For information on how to support the American Red Cross relief efforts, please click here. You can reach USAID's Disaster Assistance page here."

President Obama, along with the Democratic leaders in Congress, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi have broken their promise to the American people of transparency throughout healthcare reform negotiations. Health care meetings have not taken place in committee rooms or other open forums aired on C-SPAN as promised. Instead, they have taken place behind closed doors, keeping Congress and the American people in the dark.

Americans deserve to be heard. This health care plan will impact every American family and is too important to be discussed behind closed doors. Please go to www.burrforsenate.com/healthcare and sign the petition to stop these secret talks.