Washington, D.C. – The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) today joined Reps. Pat Toomey (R-Penn.), John Shadegg (R-Ariz.), Paul Ryan (R-WI.), and others at a Capitol Hill press conference to endorse the “Bush-Plus” proposal for larger tax cuts than the $1.6 billion proposed by President Bush.

“It is undeniable the federal government consumes too much of the national economy – more than

20 percent, a peacetime record,” CCAGW President Tom Schatz said.  “Given historically high tax rates, plus the larger-than-expected surpluses and a weak economy, it is clearly time for a round of tax cutting and simplification.  There is room for larger tax cuts than the $1.6 trillion being proposed by President Bush, along with greater debt reduction and spending reforms.  The ‘Bush-Plus’ proposal is also a good first step toward making the IRS Code itself fairer, simpler, and flatter.”

“Aside from the salutary economic effects of a tax cut and the personal benefits, including marriage penalty, capital gains, and estate tax relief, cutting off hundreds of billions of dollars before they flow into Washington will reduce both the ability and temptation to overspend the taxpayers’ money,” Schatz added.  “Recent budget surpluses have led to accelerated federal spending.  We must close the spigot before more of our tax dollars are frittered away in waste and pork.”

As an example of the most recent abuse of tax dollars in the nation’s capital, the Bush administration has identified more than 6,100 specific add-ons to the fiscal 2001 spending bills.  That is in line with the record pork levels that CAGW has uncovered so far in its annual examination of appropriations, the Congressional Pig Book, scheduled for release in mid-March. 

“The administration has told Congress it will reduce the spending levels for fiscal 2002 by the amount of add-ons it found in the current year’s appropriations bills, which is a strong first step toward spending restraint,” Schatz said.  “In conjunction with the ‘Bush-Plus’ tax cuts, reduced federal spending will make Americans better off six months from now than they are today, and they will continue to reap the benefits of these policies well into this decade.”

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