WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Jeff Fortenberry today commented on President Obama's speech on the national debt and deficit reduction:

"Getting our nation's fiscal house in order requires bold leadership, creativity, and resolve at every level of government, not just in the House of Representatives. The difficult road of tough decisions and shared sacrifice ahead demands the full attention of the House, Senate, and President—and until now, the President has been largely absent from this debate.

"I welcome the President's willingness to now attend to some of the recommendations of his debt commission, and hope that this signals a serious commitment to rein in spending and address our long-term structural deficits. And while I appreciate the President's concerns about the level of reductions necessary to address our burgeoning debt and deficit, I firmly believe that resolving our fiscal crisis does not require diminishing the vibrancy and exceptionalism of our nation. I did not come to Congress to manage such a decline of America. We can fix this situation. It will take time, but most importantly, decisive leadership."

Fortenberry has voiced support for a variety of budgetary controls, including a balanced budget requirement, the presidential line item veto, and a biennial budgeting process.

###