Fix The Debt

Today, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa joined the Campaign to Fix the Debt Steering Committee.  As the former president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the chairman of the 2012 Democratic National Convention, Mayor Villaraigosa is an important national voice for bringing people together to tackle the nation’s debt. 

As Mayor of Los Angeles, Villaraigosa has taken on the tough challenges of the city. He has cut crime to 1950s levels, doubled the number of charter schools, and created jobs while dramatically expanding the size of LA’s rail network. Before being elected Mayor, Villaraigosa served as Speaker of the California State Assembly and as a member of the Los Angeles City Council.

He brings this experience with seemingly intractable problems to solving the debt. “If we’re serious about long-term economic growth, we need a balanced approach for reducing the federal debt,” said Mayor Villaraigosa.

“That approach should include spending cuts, raising revenue and reforms that put our entitlement programs on a sustainable footing. The Campaign to Fix the Debt is dedicated to reminding all Americans that we can’t reduce the debt and create the conditions for long-term job creation without working across party lines to find practical solutions,” he says. 

“Mayor Villaraigosa has a record of fighting for an economy that works for everyone, and we are proud that he has accepted our invitation to join the Campaign to Fix the Debt Steering Committee,” said Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget and head of the Campaign to Fix the Debt.  “A viable fiscal deal must address all the factors that contribute to the federal debt, which means reining in spending, creating greater tax revenue, and reforming entitlement programs to ensure their long-term solvency.”