Delivered Deceomber 16, 2013

All Members of the Senate:

On behalf of the 208 chief executive officers who are members of the Business Roundtable, I urge your support for the Ryan-Murray budget legislation.

In our view, the greatest challenge facing the U.S. today is low economic growth. Many factors contribute to this, but one of the principal factors is the inability of the federal government to manage its own finances. Serial budget showdowns, government shutdowns, and brinksmanship over the full faith and credit of our Nation are damaging the American economy. 

The long-term business investment needed by our country simply will not occur in an environment of fiscal instability. The Ryan-Murray budget legislation, while not perfect, offers stability and the opportunity for the U.S. government to once again operate responsibly within the confines of an approved budget. It is both balanced and fiscally responsible. We are confident that if enacted it would help provide a platform for greater investment, job creation, and growth. I hope it will have your strong support.

Sincerely,

Randall L. Stephenson
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, AT&T Inc.
Chairman-elect, Business Roundtable

BRT's statement on House passage is here.