Sessions: Congress Pads Its Pockets, Rejects $84 Billion in Taxpayer Savings

Statement

U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions (TX-32) today released the following statement after House Democrats prioritized funding for Congress, shut out alternative solutions, and voted down taxpayer savings with the Fiscal Year 2010 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill/Continuing Resolution:

"At a time when Americans are suffering under double-digit unemployment and economic recession, Congress is padding its pockets with a 6 percent spending increase -- up 17 percent from just one year ago. By placing funding for congressional offices ahead of highway infrastructure, water quality, and terrorism prevention spending bills, this Democrat Congress is demonstrating priorities of self funding first and fiscal sanity last.

"Unfortunately, reckless spending has become the hallmark of this Democrat Congress. And to ensure the success of their latest spending scheme, the Majority attached an unrelated stop-gap government funding bill to prevent House Republicans from offering alternative solutions on the House floor. Nevertheless, in the Rules Committee yesterday I voted to add Congressman Jim Jordan's common-sense proposal to freeze non-security spending levels for the entire year, which would save taxpayers nearly $84 billion. Unfortunately for taxpayers, Rules Committee Democrats firmly voted down this fiscally-responsible plan, barring it from consideration on the House Floor.

"The American people are rightly dismayed at Congress' run-away deficit spending. That is why my Republican colleagues and I will continue fighting to ensure that Americans' hard-earned tax dollars are met with accountability, transparency, and fiscal responsibility in Congress."

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