Encourages Majority Leader to Push Earmark, Budget Reforms

(Washington, D.C.) – The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) today congratulated Majority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) on his election as House Majority Leader.  Below are excerpts from a letter sent by CCAGW President Tom Schatz to Rep. Boehner:

CCAGW is pleased that the House passed the Deficit Reduction Act, for which we know you worked tirelessly to become law.  But this is only a modest step in reining in government spending.  Frankly, CCAGW, and the more than 1.2 million taxpayers we represent, have been disappointed with Congress’s lack of fiscal discipline.  Total federal spending has increased from $1.5 trillion in fiscal 1995 to almost $2.5 trillion in fiscal 2005.  The national debt passed $8 trillion in 2005 and the deficit for fiscal 2006 is projected to be $337 billion.

In light of these staggering figures, it is important that Congress does far more to shrink the size of government.  One idea is to pass Rep. Jeff Flake’s (R-Ariz.) earmark legislation, H.R. 1642, the Obligation of Funds Transparency Act of 2005.  Since 1995, pork barrel spending has increased from $10.8 billion and 1,439 projects to $27.3 billion and 13,997 projects in 2005.  This is not a record to be proud of as pork-barrel spending is a symbol of out-of-control and wasteful spending.  As someone who has rejected earmarks, we know you understand this problem.

Another important set of budget reforms that should be considered by the full House have been put forward by the Republican Study Committee, such as a joint budget resolution, point of order protection, entitlement caps, enhanced rescission, and a Sunset Commission.  These changes would help achieve a balanced budget and reduce the deficit.

We hope that you will proceed cautiously with lobbying reform so as not to tread on every American’s right “to petition the government for a redress of grievances” or place more tax dollars at risk.  More transparency is helpful and lobbying rules should be applied equally.  For example, lobbyists who represent city, state, and federal governments, universities, or Indian tribes should have similar reporting requirements as corporations and nonprofit organizations.

The real answer to lobbying reform is a reduction in the size of government.  Today, the federal government inserts itself into practically every facet of American life.  The growth in lobbying to protect one’s interest is the logical result of this expensive fact.

The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste is the lobbying arm of Citizens Against Government Waste, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.