WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed issued the following statement in opposition to the confirmation of U.S. Representative Mick Mulvaney (R-SC) to be the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB):

“Congressman Mulvaney is an inappropriate choice for budget director.  He once voted to declare Social Security and Medicare ‘unconstitutional’ and has a record of supporting policies that would harm working families and our economy. 

“During his tenure in the House, Congressman Mulvaney has been a cheerleader for government shut downs and defaults.  He put our economy at risk by trying to use the full faith and credit of the United States as a bargaining chip in order to secure draconian, across the board budget cuts.

“If Congressman Mulvaney is confirmed we will have a huge fight on our hands to protect Social Security, Medicare, and other essential programs that working Americans rely on.  He has called Social Security a Ponzi scheme and said: “We have to end Medicare as we know it.” 

“Let’s be clear: when you force a person to wait two or three more years to begin collecting the full benefits they have earned, it is a cut.  And if poor health forces someone to begin collecting benefits before reaching the normal retirement age, he or she could see a significant reduction in monthly benefits. 

“We need an OMB Director who believes in good government and can help solve our nation’s spending, deficit, and debt challenges.  Congressman Mulvaney’s policy prescriptions will hurt working families.”