BISHOP TACKLES FEDERAL BUDGET DEFICIT WITH MACON RESIDENTS

MACON, GA – Tonight, over 50 Macon residents tried their hand at balancing the federal budget during a deficit reduction workshop held by Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02). The non-partisan Concord Coalition helped organize the event at Vineville Academy. During the event, participants were placed in the role of the legislator and educated on the difficult balancing of priorities that is necessary to reduce the deficit and balance the budget. Participants were also given the chance to review current budget priorities, suggest proposals, and discuss their political and fiscal implications.

“Finding a solution for our nation’s fiscal challenges will not be easy,” said Congressman Bishop. “I believe that if we are going to balance the budget and reduce the deficit, we must get past the rigid ideological differences that have prevented us from finding effective bipartisan solutions that grow our economy and put our fiscal house in order for the long term.”

Tonight’s town hall comes at a critical time for our nation. On March 1, the “sequester,” or across-the-board budget cuts, will be implemented as mandated by the Budget Control Act of 2011. With the nation focused on the budgetary issues facing the United States, Congressman Bishop wanted to hear directly from local residents about their concerns and listen to their potential solutions.

Congressman Bishop is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition of fiscally responsible Democrats who are working to find a responsible framework to reduce spending, pay down our national debt, and balance the budget. The Concord Coalition is a nationwide, non-partisan, grassroots organization dedicated to educating the public about the causes and consequences of federal budget deficits. This is the third event Congressman Bishop and the Concord Coalition have conducted in the Second Congressional District, holding previous workshops in Albany and Columbus.