Politics

Reforming How Congress Spends

According to the Treasury Department, the federal government ran a $192.3 billion deficit in March, which is the largest deficit incurred for that month in U.S. history. So far, spending is up 32.9% compared to a year ago and tax collections are down 14.0%. With half of the fiscal year remaining, the federal deficit is already $501.8 billion or 110.3% more than last year?s $455 billion deficit, which was the highest in U.S. history.

Spending in Washington is clearly out of control, and the President?s (Democratic) budget will only make our situation worse. The President?s budget doubles the debt in five years, and nearly triples the debt in 10 years. Congressman Conaway believes it is Congress? responsibility to evaluate the spending process and ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely ? or not at all. If Congress considers a program or earmark in a spending (appropriations) bill unworthy of federal funding, those funds should not be spent and thereby used to reduce the deficit.

Full post as published by Mike Conaway's Blog on April 24, 2009 (boomark / email).