Mississippi lawmakers differ on federal budget issues

Mississippi lawmakers differ on federal budget issues

WASHINGTON — Will balancing the federal budget be a difficult, harrowing procedure like chemotherapy? Or can Congress fix its trillion-dollar deficits with a few well-placed bandages, inflicting little pain on American citizens?

Mississippi lawmakers can’t seem to agree.

Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Oxford, said he saw no need to raise taxes or to reduce benefits in entitlement programs — such as Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid — to balance the budget.

Gulf Live
5/23/11