Following is a statement from U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9) on his vote today in favor of the House Republican Fiscal Year 2013 budget resolution, known as The Path to Prosperity:

“Since the president and Democrats in the Senate have refused to focus seriously on avoiding the debt-fueled crisis our nation faces, the House of Representatives stepped up again today by advancing a bold plan of action that will help lift our crushing burden of debt and spur job creation and economic opportunity, while strengthening health and retirement security. Through a number of policy provisions, this budget would cut spending by $5.3 trillion relative to the president’s budget, and reform our broken tax code to make it simpler, fairer and more competitive. The plan also would repeal President Obama’s misguided health-care law, which is currently being reviewed by the Supreme Court. This bold budget makes the tough choices that Americans are demanding and this administration is ignoring. The Path to Prosperity budget blueprint puts the federal budget on path to balance, prevents deep and indiscriminate cuts to defense and protects and strengthens Medicare by empowering our nation’s seniors and keeps the program from going bankrupt. It is my earnest hope that the Senate puts aside partisan politics and, for the first time in three years, decides to pass a responsible and much-needed budget that hard-working American families have been demanding.”