Gillibrand Releases Plan to Restore Fiscal Discipline to Congress
Gillibrand Releases Plan to Restore Fiscal Discipline to Congress
Submitted by Phil Giltner on August 3, 2006 - 2:51pm.
Labels the reckless spending habits in Washington as unacceptable
Lake Placid - The Democratic candidate in NY's 20th Congressional District, Kirsten Gillibrand, is meeting with area residents while campaigning in the North Country to talk about her plan to restore fiscal discipline to Congress. According to Gillibrand, "Our nation's debt has topped $8.4 trillion, and we pay half a billion dollars everyday just on the interest of the debt alone. The federal government has placed a $28,000 debt on every man, woman and child in this country - these are storm clouds hanging over our future. We need a comprehensive plan that will allow for transparency and accountability in Washington. The taxpayers of Upstate New York deserve to have their money spent wisely and transparently. The national deficit's rapid escalation is unacceptable for our future."
Under the current system, earmarks can be inserted into the conference committee's appropriations bills. The earmark is not debated on the floor of the House or Senate, and a Member cannot amend the final Conference Report. Legislators are not given the due time or background to fully understand last minute measures. Over the last six years several measures have been proposed to bring fiscal responsibility to the government and the Bush led Administration and Congress have repeatedly proven that pursuing a more transparent fiscal system was not their priority. The 2006 budget contained nearly 10,000 pork projects worth $29 billion. Pork spending has increased by 64% since fiscal year 2001.
Gillibrand continued, "Publicly traded companies file their budgets every quarter and are held accountable by their stockholders, the U.S. government's budget should be held to the same standards. Too many times pork projects are hidden or added too late in the process, and are not analyzed or discussed. We have unfunded mandates and troops at war who deserve better equipment, it is hard to understand how the system of reckless spending continues like business as usual."
Gillibrand's Plan to Restore Fiscal Discipline to Congress and Control the National Deficit
Establish Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) rules for the budget
..ensuring the government spends responsible
Guarantee that Social Security and Medicare funds will not be used for
discretionary spending
.. protecting our seniors and the most vulnerable
Mandate an annual audit of large government contracts and agencies
.. promoting transparency in the legislative process, end the era of "no-bid" contracts, and build trust with the American people.
Give lawmakers a week to read appropriations bills
.. providing legislators with the necessary time to ensure wise and fiscally responsible spending of tax dollars
Prohibit the practice of adding earmarks right before a vote
.... ending the questionable practice of pushing pork through the system
Attach a sponsor to every earmark and require Member to justify the allocation in the Congressional Record
.. assigning responsibility for wasteful pork projects, as many pass without accountability
Sweeney Lacks Commitment to Fiscal Discipline
* Sweeney Has Voted A Dozen Times Against Pay-As-You-Go-Rules. Sweeney voted against establishing Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) rules for the budget as recently as last May. PAYGO will restore fiscal discipline to the budget by eliminating deficit spending once the budget is balanced. (HCR 376, Vote 157, 5/18/2006)
* Sweeney Has Voted Eight Times Against Measures Calling For A Balanced Budget. (Vote 157, 5/18/2006; Vote 87, 3/17/2005; Vote 91, 3/25/2004; Vote 89, 3/25/2004; Vote 80, 3/20/2003; Vote 79, 3/20/2003; Vote 78, 3/20/2003)
http://www.gillibrand2006.com/node/273