Washington, D.C. – The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) released the following statement in response to potential reductions to discretionary funding:
“NCSL continues to call on both the administration and Congress to address the U.S. statutory debt ceiling and consider serious, long-term reforms that will reduce the national debt and put the country on more sustainable fiscal footing.
We believe a comprehensive, bold and aggressive plan is needed to address our nation’s fiscal challenges and strengthen our economy. NCSL urges all options be on the table—discretionary and non-discretionary spending. This means examining all possible avenues for deficit reduction, including entitlement reform, tax expenditures and federal tax reform and that any legislation be analyzed thoroughly for its potential impact on state and local governments.
When responding to budget pressures, NCSL urges the federal government to avoid simply shifting costs and exporting deficits to states through unfunded mandates and instead explore mechanisms such as shared savings and enhanced program flexibility to ensure states are not disproportionately or unreasonably burdened by federal deficit reduction.
NCSL welcomes the opportunity to work constructively and cooperatively with the administration and Congress to address our nation’s debt.”
NCSL is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislators and staffs of the states, commonwealths and territories. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system.