WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts released the following statement today in response to the president’s address on reducing the deficit:

“I am encouraged that the president has, to some extent, joined the debate regarding our staggering national debt—the number one concern of the American people.

“On the positive side, he has proposed cuts and is asking all Americans to sacrifice for the good of our children and grandchildren. That made for a good speech, but facts are stubborn things. It was just last February the president proposed a budget for fiscal year 2012 that astoundingly would have seen our debt grow to over $20 trillion in five years. We are over $14 trillion today and exploding daily.

“Now, after weeks of wrangling in the Congress and proposed tough leadership on deficit reduction, we get budget number two in the form of a speech. I am concerned his plan targets the very engines that will power our nation’s economic recovery, our small businesses, and that his details on mandatory spending cuts—where serious reforms are to be found—are vague at best. Nevertheless, I welcome the president to the debate.”

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