The following statement is from Ms. Ryan Alexander, president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, in response to President Trump’s Budget Statement, released March 11, 2019:

The President’s fiscal year 2020 budget promises a new era of “MAGAnomics” and to put “Taxpayers First.” Maybe that would be true if by “MAGAnomics” the President meant trillion dollar deficits and by “taxpayers” he meant Pentagon and defense contractors.

Thankfully, this budget request is likely even more dead on arrival than most. Instead of using a budget gimmick to mindlessly boost defense spending to $750 billion, the Pentagon should better spend the funds at much lower levels. The non-defense discretionary budget should be not exempt from cuts, but also shouldn’t be treated as a piggy bank to raid for Pentagon coffers. The proposed budget estimates net interest to service the debt will grow from $325 billion in FY2018 to $479 billion in FY2020 to $823 billion in FY2029. That simply isn’t sustainable. Instead of unrealistic increases and cuts, the administration should pursue thoughtful reforms to mandatory spending, targeted cuts and increases and sources of revenue to put the country on more stable fiscal footing.