Senator Coons Calls for Across-the-Board Cut to Congressional Office Budgets

Press Release

U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) called for an across-the-board cut to the budgets of all Congressional offices as a means for cutting additional spending on Monday. The request came in a letter to Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch Chairman Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Ranking Member John Hoeven (R-ND).

"As your committee looks for ways to cut additional spending from this year's budget, I strongly urge you to cut Congress' budget as well," Senator Coons wrote. "We in Congress must do our part, too, by accepting cuts to our administrative budgets. Though the savings from these cuts will not solve our fiscal problems, it is important for Congress to lead by example and share in the sacrifices we will ask families in Delaware and across the country to make."

Senator Coons -- a member of the Senate Budget Committee -- cut millions in wasteful spending and restored fiscal responsibility to New Castle County government before being elected to the Senate in 2010. As County Executive, he cut his own pay and asked all county employees doing the same, ultimately cutting $130 million in spending.

Source