NFFE National President William R. Dougan’s Statement on the Proposed FY12 Federal Budget

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Cory Bythrow, Communications Director

Phone: (202) 255-9950

Washington, D.C. – In response to the release of the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Proposal, NFFE National President William R. Dougan released the following statement:

“We are deeply disappointed with many of the cutbacks contained in the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2012 Federal Budget. Though deficit reduction is indeed a priority, we feel that doing so at the expense of critical government services is a misguided approach. These proposals may trim the deficit somewhat, but they will also cost jobs, and lead to cuts in vital government services that are essential to our nation’s economy, our communities, and our national security.

In the coming days and weeks, we hope this budget proposal will be the start of a serious conversation with the American people about what services and programs we want, and what we don’t want. The debate will be long and hard-fought, but it must happen in an open an honest way. The American people, who will ultimately bear the consequences of these decisions, deserve nothing less.

We understand that the federal deficit is enormous, and like it or not, all options to increase revenues or reduce federal spending have to be on the table. There is little doubt that our nation’s deficit is on an unsustainable path. But if we are going to discuss spending reductions, we have to talk seriously about what services we are willing to sacrifice to get our fiscal house in order.

Federal employees and the services they provide are critical contributors to our nation’s continued security and prosperity. It would be shortsighted to pursue broad-brushed savings without first exploring the impacts of achieving those savings. If we start making drastic cuts to the vital government services our nation relies on, the American people are going to feel it.”