Utah Valley Times

WASHINGTON—At a Budget Committee hearing today to discuss the President’s budget proposal, U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) criticized the lack of focus on fiscal responsibility amidst the country's debt crisis. Romney expressed frustration with the Committee's priorities, highlighting the disproportionate attention given to topics unrelated to budget and debt issues.

During an exchange with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shalanda Young, Senator Romney emphasized the need for bipartisan cooperation to address the nation's financial challenges. He called for practical solutions and criticized the theatrics of the Committee, stating, "This is a committee that’s about performing, getting on stage, and acting like we care about these things. But there’s actually no work being done by this Committee to deal with our budget and to deal with federal spending."

Romney also raised concerns about proposals to tax unrealized capital gains, labeling them as detrimental to the economy. He underscored the importance of genuine collaboration within Congress to tackle deficits and debt effectively.

In response to the OMB Director's remarks, Senator Romney reiterated the necessity of bipartisan efforts, stating, "We need to work as a committee and as a Congress to stop acting for the cameras and start working for the American people to finally deal with the massive deficits and debt that we have."

Romney's call for a shift towards substantive action and fiscal responsibility resonated throughout the Committee hearing, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the nation's financial challenges.