WASHINGTON - Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, made the following statement today following his No vote on the Balanced Budget Amendment:

"I opposed the balanced budget amendment considered by the House for two reasons.  First, it does nothing to address the immediate challenges we face in our budget or in this economic crisis.  Congress has repeatedly created commissions or rhetorically claimed that at some future date they will try to get our federal deficit under control.  But that's the easy part.  The tough part is actually cutting the spending and raising the revenue necessary to get us on a path to fiscal responsibility.  This amendment again failed to do that. I strongly believe that Congress passing a ten-year plan that cuts spending and raises revenue in a way that gives people confidence that our government will finally get its fiscal house in order is a critical part of solving our economic crisis.  But this bill simply delayed the tough decisions necessary to make that happen.

"I also oppose this amendment because there are rare circumstances when running an annual deficit is necessary. In an economic crisis or national emergency, requiring a balanced budget would have a devastating impact on our economy. If this amendment were in effect during the 2008 financial crisis, it would have required deep spending cuts or tax increases at a time when such action would have made our economy much worse.

"Congress has the power to do what is necessary to balance the budget without a restrictive constitutional amendment. We don’t need another distraction. We must make the tough decisions on what spending to cut and what revenues to raise."

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U.S. Rep. Adam Smith (WA-09), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, has introduced legislation to address the inefficient uses and management of public land through the federal grazing permit program:

The Rural Economic Vitalization Act of 2011 would:

• Save taxpayers up to $115 million each year by reducing the costs of public lands management.
• Attract private investments that will help stimulate rural economies.
• Provide federal grazing permit holders the option to exchange permits for market value compensation.
• Improve wildlife habitat and reduce environmental damage due to livestock grazing.

“The current federal grazing program is among the most economically inefficient uses of our public lands. My legislation opens the door for private solutions to a long-standing problem that costs taxpayers millions and has prevented public land ranchers from efficiently utilizing resources available to them.

“Many permit holders would choose to retire from public lands grazing if they could recoup their investment in their federal grazing permit. REVA provides a private market mechanism to do this. On a voluntary basis, current permit holders will have the option to relinquish their grazing permits in exchange for market value compensation paid by private parties.  

“The Bureau of Land Management and the Forest service run an annual deficit administering grazing permits and managing private cattle grazing operations. My bill eliminates wasteful spending, gives ranchers the choice to retire permits, allows public lands to recover natural habitats and fosters the return of native plants and wildlife.”

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