Today, under the leadership of Idaho Representative Walt Minnick, members of the fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition continued the roll out of their blueprint for fiscal reform with the introduction of the Budget Enforcement Legislation Tool “BELT” Act of 2010. This commonsense legislation would require Congress and the president to work cooperatively to eliminate spending programs that are duplicative, inefficient, and outdated.

Today, members of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition, under the leadership of Indiana Representative Joe Donnelly, introduced the “Forecast for the Future Act of 2010,” a critical component of the Blue Dog Blueprint for Fiscal Reform that would require Congress and the President to take into account the nation’s long term financial obligations as part of the federal budget process. In 2009, the Department of the Treasury estimated projected entitlement spending at approximately $62 trillion over the next 75 years.

Today, members of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition, led by Representatives Frank Kratovil of Maryland and Travis Childers of Mississippi, announced their plans to introduce legislation that would require the federal government to cut non-security spending by nearly 6%, saving the American taxpayers over $400 billion.

Today, members of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition, led by Representative Bobby Bright of Alabama, will introduce legislation that would require the federal government to pay down the national debt and balance the budget by 2020. The Blue Dog “Balanced Budget Amendment” is a key component of the Blue Dog Blueprint for Fiscal Reform, a comprehensive plan to begin reducing the deficit, balance the budget and lay the groundwork for sound fiscal policies over the long term.

Today, leading members of the fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition released the following statements on final passage of statutory pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) legislation.

Today, Representative Jim Matheson (D-UT), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications released the following statement on the Blue Dog Blueprint for Fiscal Reform and the status of statutory pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) legislation.

Today, Blue Dog leaders released the following statements hailing Senate passage of pay-as-you-go legislation as a critical step forward in the coalition’s fight to restore fiscal discipline to the federal government.

Representative Jim Matheson (D-UT), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications, issued the following statement tonight in response to President Obama’s State of the Union address.”It is time that we roll up our sleeves and do what it takes to rein in government spending and balance the budget,” said Representative Jim Matheson. “The system is broken, and neither political party is without blame.

Today, members of the fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition released a comprehensive plan aimed at cutting spending and balancing the budget. The “Blue Dog Blueprint for Fiscal Reform” outlines an extensive list of legislative priorities (attached) that expand on the group’s support for establishing a fiscal reform commission and reinstating pay-as-you-go budget rules.

Today, Representative Jim Matheson (D-UT), Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications, released the following statement after reports that House and Senate leaders continue to make progress on a deal to move forward with key elements of fiscal reform.”After many hard fought years, we are on the precipice of achieving real fiscal reform in Washington. The Blue Dogs applaud the administration, as well as the members of Congress who have worked so diligently over the past year to restore the proven pay-as-you-go rules that were in effect when we achieved budget surpluses in the 1990’s.