WASHINGTON - Congressman Adam H. Putnam (FL-12) made the following statement on the floor of the House of Representatives in support of H.R. 4663, the Spending Control Act of 2004.

“I thank my Chairman and I thank you Mr. Speaker. It is an important debate that we are having today, one that cuts across party and generational lines: the issue of fiscal responsibility and really keeping our word, keeping our commitment to a process that was put in place 30 years ago with the creation of the budget committee, the commitment to control spending, to set forward a blueprint of priorities for the federal government and then follow through on it.

“Many people would be amazed to know that two thirds of the federal budget is on autopilot. Only one third of the budget is subject to annual review, change, that leads to a debate, that leads to a vote, that all of us are then held accountable through the regular appropriations process. Two thirds of the budget continues to grow, year after year, without direct input from the Appropriations committee or from the Congress as a whole. That is not good long-term fiscal policy.

“The programs within mandatory spending are worthwhile and important, but they are not so important that they should be exempt from Congressional review. As we move through this debate, it is a healthy process for us to move forward with reform efforts that bring that two thirds back under the control of the Congress and let us exert the control and take the responsibility that we were hired to take on.

“I applaud our chairman and the distinguished chairman of the appropriations committee for working through these issues and having this important discussion about retaking congressional responsibility for the fiscal future of this country.”

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