“It is past time for Democrats and Republicans to set politics aside,” said Donnelly. “It’s critical for both parties to work together to find common sense ways to significantly reduce spending, close unnecessary tax loopholes, and better balance the budget. We can and should do this in a more thoughtful way.

“Hoosier priorities are at risk because lawmakers were unable to focus on finding common ground and instead chose to draw political lines in the sand. Discussions about sequestration should not be about assigning blame and winning political fights—they should be focused on finding an alternative both parties can agree to. We need to do what is right for our county and get our fiscal house in order.”

Senator Donnelly, who has repeatedly voted for a Balanced Budget Amendment, went on to state his support for the creation of a sunset commission, telling members of the media, “If a program isn’t working for taxpayers, let’s eliminate it.” A Sunset Commission would conduct a periodic review of federal programs to assess cost-effectiveness.

To read more about sequestration’s impact on Indiana, click here.