As a candidate for U.S. Senate in 2006, Democrat Bob Casey (D-PA) routinely preached the importance of fiscal responsibility, and promised Pennsylvanians that he “believe[d] in a balanced budget” because “government should live within its means, like any small business.” 

But today, Casey voted with his Washington party bosses against even considering a measure to balance the federal budget while cutting runaway spending now and capping Washington’s spending in the future – just the latest in a long pattern of Casey putting his liberal Washington agenda ahead of keeping his promises to Pennsylvanians.

“Sadly, it’s not surprising that Senator Casey would break his promise and vote against even considering a balanced federal budget today.  But Pennsylvanians are no doubt wondering how Casey explains his vote today to kill a balanced budget in light of his repeated claims that he supported a balanced budget in Washington.” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Chris Bond today.

Since coming to Washington, Casey has routinely abandoned his previous support for fiscal responsibility, instead choosing to rubberstamp President Barack Obama’s reckless spending agenda – including the failed $787 billion stimulus and $2 trillion health care overhaul.

In fact, it’s been 814 days since Casey and his fellow Senate Democrats have proposed any federal budget, much less the balanced budget Casey promised to support.  Meanwhile, in yet another indication that Casey and Obama’s deficit spending has failed to create the jobs they promised, Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate rose in June to 7.6 percent in the wake of their failed $787 billion stimulus.