WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement after the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) today issued its sequester transparency report.

"The report released today underscores the need for Congressional Republicans to end their dangerous and irresponsible political posturing and work with Democrats on a balanced approach to deficit reduction. The consequences of failure and allowing these impending, across-the-board cuts to take place are simply unacceptable. They are also entirely avoidable -- but only if Republicans join Democrats in standing up to special interests for the sake of our nation’s fiscal health.

"There’s no reason to cut Medicare payments to doctors or deny $2.5 billion in lifesaving research funding to the National Institutes of Health when other, common sense solutions remain on the table. Reduce massive and superfluous subsidies to oil companies. Ask billionaires to pay their fair share. Scale back a nuclear weapons budget that is a Cold War relic.

"By refusing to accept the need to find additional revenues, Republicans seriously jeopardize economic growth and job creation in every corner of the country."

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