Following is a statement from U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9) on the deficit committee’s announcement it is unable to cut $1.2 trillion from the federal budget:

“I had been hopeful that the committee would work together to come up with $1.2 to $1.5 trillion in spending cuts.  However, some members of the committee insisted on sweeping tax increases, even at a time when most economists believe that it would further weaken our struggling economy and contribute to higher unemployment, and even though spending – not taxes – is at the root of the problem. The bottom line is that our current level of spending is unsustainable, so there will be at least $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction one way or another.”

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