Washington, D.C. - The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) today called on the U.S. Senate to block passage of the Defense Appropriations Bill, expected for consideration Thursday, despite its many important measures such as pay raises for military personnel, missile defense, and counter intelligence. 

"It is unfortunate, but the Senate should block the Defense Appropriations because it has been loaded up with extra spending measures, some $15 billion beyond the $40 billion emergency bill agreed to by President Bush and Congress to pay for the terrorist attacks," CCAGW President Tom Schatz said.

"As usual, the King of Pork, Senator Robert Byrd (D-W.Va) and his tax-and-spend colleagues couldn’t control themselves.  They have splurged past the already-increased October $686 billion budget agreement, as well as the $40 billion emergency spending package passed in September — which itself was double what the President requested after September 11," Schatz added.  "Much of this spending is non-defense related, and the taxpayer has spent more than enough already for these issues.  Any decisions about additional funding should be made next year."

It would be wise for the Senate to take a look at remarks recently made by Office of Management and Budget Director Mitch Daniels.  He pointed out that during World War II, President Roosevelt told his budget director to hold spending, even lower it if possible, and to cut out all new projects.  And they did.  Between 1939 and 1942, non-defense spending was cut by 22 percent and by 37 percent until 1944.  CCAGW asks: if the government could do it then, why can’t we do it now?

“Senator Byrd seems to think there can be no limit to spending the taxpayer’s money.  Pork-barrel projects such as $750,000 for agriculture waste utilization in West Virginia, $1.2 million for the Greenbrier River Basin, or $2.2 million for the National Center for Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture in Leetown, W.Va. should be cut.  Byrd has placed so much pork in other appropriations bills that are now either signed or in conference, that he has effectively reneged on his word and broken the budget agreement.  His colleagues must stop him,” Schatz concluded.

CCAGW is the lobbying arm of Citizens Against Government Waste, the nation’s largest taxpayer advocacy group with over one million members and supporters nationwide.  It is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, mismanagement and abuse in government.