October 1, 2012

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa issued this statement following the release of a bipartisan letter from The U.S. Conference of Mayors to Congressional leadership, urging them to adopt a bipartisan and balanced approach to deficit reduction that will steer away from the fiscal cliff:

“Mayors across the country put purpose before partisanship. We collaborate, forge consensus, and create coalitions. In short, we are governing. Now it’s Congress’ turn.

“The draconian, indiscriminate, and across-the-board budget cuts scheduled to take place in January would devastate both domestic investments and national defense programs.

“One-third of the threatened deep cuts in domestic spending are aimed at state and local programs: 36 percent to education; 28 percent to housing and community development; 18 percent to health and the environment; ten percent to workforce; and five percent to public safety and disaster response. That means dramatic jobs losses for our teachers, our first responders, and our health care workers. Losses our metro economies cannot afford.

“It is imperative that Congress stop playing politics and get serious. Congress needs to tackle deficit reduction in the way Americans want them to: by striking a balance between cuts and new revenues.

“The threat of a national default can no longer be used as a negotiation tactic. Congress must reach a comprehensive, balanced deficit reduction agreement that facilitates long-term economic growth.”