CAGW Issues Report on Senate Office Expenses

(Washington, D.C.) – On the rare occasion when Congress manages to waste fewer taxpayer dollars than it is afforded, it would be nice to think that the savings are sent straight to the Treasury for deficit reduction, rather than being spent elsewhere. Unfortunately, that is not always the case, as the Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) reveals today in a report titled “Reform the Senate Office Allowance System.”

The report details the perverse system of incentives facing senators who do not spend all of the money appropriated for their offices. Because Senate rules dictate that only a portion of a senator’s total savings can go toward deficit reduction, senators who make an effort to save money can end up subsidizing the profligate spending of other senators’ offices or funding the miscellaneous needs of the Appropriations Committee. Although a majority of senators did not spend their entire appropriated amount in fiscal year (FY) 2010, much of the savings was returned to the Appropriations Committee and used to pay for other government expenses.

A review of the funding data in the May 2011 Report of the Secretary of the Senate revealed that out of the 102 senators who were in office for all or part of FY 2010, 52 senators spent less than their pro-rated share of the $311 million set aside for Senate office expenses, while 50 senators spent more than their share. Of those who exceeded their allotment, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), who spent $390,607 more than her $4.9 million pro-rated share, was the worst offender.

CAGW’s report recommends several reforms to the congressional office expense system. The most important change is a requirement that all savings be returned to the Treasury. Tighter office allowance limits would also help to prevent senators from wasting taxpayer dollars, since many already spend at levels far below their limit.

“Senators spend enough time pilfering the wallets of taxpayers through legislation,” said CAGW President Tom Schatz. “The last thing they need is an incentive to spend more and save less. Reforming the Senate office expenditure system could provide real savings for taxpayers.”

Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, mismanagement and abuse in government.