WASHINGTON, DC—U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee, released the follow statement after the Senate passed legislation to fund the government through March 18:
“The two-week funding extension passed today avoids a government shutdown this week. However, the House and Senate must work together to pass a bill to fund the government for the remainder of this fiscal year. We can’t continually face the threat of a government shutdown and we must avoid hurting the economic recovery.
“There is agreement that budget cuts should be made this fiscal year. However, both sides must listen to economists like Mark Zandi who has warned that House-passed legislation would reduce economic growth and cost 700,000 jobs.
“Congress must finish debate on the FY11 funding bills that should have been passed last year so that it can move to appropriations bills for the next fiscal year and to reduce long-term deficits and invest in the future.”
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