Budget and Government Spending

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Taking Control of Our Fiscal Future
The federal government will borrow 43 cents for every dollar that it spends this fiscal year. The total FY 2009 deficit is roughly $1.58 trillion—$1.12 trillion or 244.2% more than last year, which was at that time the highest deficit in U.S. history. This path is unsustainable and wrong. So, what can the American people demand its Congress do? Here’s Congressman Forbes' three-step plan to take control of our fiscal future.

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Video: When will government listen?
In this video, Congressman Forbes calls on the government to end its out of control spending and address the causes of a bad economy instead. Watch...
Voting Against the Economic Stimulus
Congressman Forbes is one of 17 Members of Congress that have voted against every single bailout and stimulus package. More...
Balancing the Federal Budget
Congressman Forbes has cosponsored an amendment to our Constitution that would require a balanced federal budget every year. More...


Reducing government waste.  Congressman Forbes supported the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act of 2010 (S.1508), which works to cut down on wrongful payments made by government agencies.  This legislation improves upon a similar 2009 bill by creating more aggressive oversight and funding recovery processes.  This bill passed the House by a vote of 414-0.

Rescinded excess federal funds. Congressman Forbes supported the Surface Transportation Savings Act of 2010 (H.R.5604), which collects $107 million allocated to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Transit Authority. These funds went unused after states failed to meet eligibility requirements.  This bill passed the House by a vote of 402-0.

Opposed more deficit spending.  Congressman Forbes voted against the Restoration of Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act (H.R.5618), which would increase the federal deficit by an estimated $34 billion. Instead, Congressman Forbes voted for an amendment that would pay for the extension of unemployment benefits by using unused stimulus funds.  H.R. 5618l passed the House by a vote of 270-153.  The amendment failed by a vote of 196-220.

Opposing new government bailouts.  Congressman Forbes voted against H.R.5297, which would create a new $32 billion bailout program for banks.  The legislation is meant to encourage lending to small businesses, but does not require banks to actually lend the money to businesses.  This bill passed the House by a vote of 241-182.

Opposing a European style value added tax (VAT).  Congressman Forbes joined 153 House members in signing a letter addressed to the President’s Debt Commission asking that it not consider a European-style Value Added Tax (VAT) as part of any recommendations to reduce our national debt.  Similar tax schemes common in European countries have proven insufficient to solve the current Europe debt crisis.  Such an approach could raise unemployment figures and lead to a similar failure in the U.S.  To read Congressman Forbes’ column on the VAT, click here.

Fighting for a balanced budget.  Congressman Forbes joined the bipartisan Balanced Budget Amendment Caucus, which is dedicated to achieving passage of a resolution (H.J.Res.1) that would rein in out-of-control spending by instituting a Constitutional amendment to mandate that Congress not continue to increase our federal debt except under extraordinary circumstances and with three-fifths approval by each house of Congress.

Opposed spending millions of taxpayer dollars on fish monitoring. Congressman Forbes voted to oppose the Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Improvement Act of 2010 (H.R.2288), which would spend millions of taxpayer dollars on fish population monitoring, fish stocking, and the control of non-native fish, among other things, in the Upper Colorado River and San Juan River.  This bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 264-122.

Voted against duplicative government spending. Congressman Forbes voted to oppose the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (H.R.5325), which would cost $48 billion in taxpayer money to fund existing science programs and created several new government programs.  In addition, several key cost-reducing amendments were not included in the final version of the legislation.  This bill was did not achieve the necessary 2/3 votes for passage and failed by a vote of 261-148.

Supported a fiscally responsible economic recovery plan. Congressman Forbes agreed to cosponsor legislation (H.R.5029) that would terminate the TARP program, repeal the remaining “stimulus” spending, and usher in several tax decreases by reducing the payroll tax in half for 2010, eliminating the capital gains tax, reducing the corporate tax rate to 12.5%, and permanently eliminating the death tax.

Supported responsible federal spending. Congressman Forbes supported an amendment to the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act (H.R.5116), to prevent federal employees who have been disciplined for viewing pornography at work from receiving salaries. The amendment would also lower the bill’s spending back to 2010 levels from the proposed increase.  This amendment passed the House by vote of 292-126.

Cutting government spending by 40%.  Congressman Forbes has introduced legislation, the Tighten Washington’s Belt Act of 2010, to cut government spending by 10% each year until Fiscal Year 2015. Read Congressman Forbes’ recent column with details on the bill here.  

Opposing an increase to the debt limit.  Congressman Forbes voted to oppose the rule for  H. J. Res. 45, which would increase the federal debt limit by $1.9 trillion, from $12.4 trillion to $14.3 trillion.  The 15.3% increase would be the largest amount of a one-time debt limit increase in history.  Ten years ago, the total U.S. national debt was $7 trillion. This year the total debt will be $14 trillion. In the past decade, the U.S. has accumulated as much debt as was accumulated in our nation’s previous 211 years of existence. The measure passed the House by a vote of 217-212.
 

Limiting the national debt.  Congressman Forbes cosponsored H.R. 4262, which would require a two-thirds vote in both the House of Representatives and Senate to raise the national debt level. Currently, the national debt can be raised automatically in the joint budget resolution without facing a direct vote or by a simple majority. This legislation will make new debt increases more difficult. 

Supported the President’s veto of a supplemental spending bill. Congressman Forbes voted to sustain the President’s veto of a short term Department of Defense spending bill, H.J.Res.64. The stopgap spending bill was deemed unnecessary after a more long-term Department of Defense spending bill had since been enacted covering all programs in H.J.Res.64. This resolution was defeated in support of the veto by a vote of 143-245.

Opposing increasing the national debt limit.  Congressman Forbes opposed H.R. 4314, which increased the national debt limit by $300 billion, from $12.104 trillion to $12.394 trillion.  The statutory national debt limit sets the legal ceiling for how much money the federal government may borrow.  Since January 2007, the nation's debt has increased by 39 percent, from $8.7 trillion to $12 trillion, and last year, 43 cents of every federal dollar spent had to be borrowed by the government. The legislation passed by a vote of 218-214.

Opposing $447-billion in federal spending.  Congressman Forbes voted against the conference report on H.R. 3288, the Fiscal Year 2010 Omnibus Spending bill that funds six departments of the federal government. The bill increased spending by $50 billion over last year's budget, and increased the base funding for the departments by 12 percent at a time when American families are being forced to cut back.  The legislation passed by a vote of 221-202. 

Restoring fiscal responsibility in Washington. Congressman Forbes voted in favor of repealing the Troubled Asset Relief bailout program (TARP), and directing any unspent or new bailout towards reducing the national debt. House Majority leadership proposed an increase of the national debt limit this week as a result of increased government spending. The Motion failed by a vote of 190-232.

Opposed making the TARP bailout permanent. Congressman Forbes voted against H.R. 4173, which would extend TARP by establishing a permanent bailout fund, creating a new powerful bureaucracy called the Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA), and restricting the flow of credit to businesses at a time when unemployment is over 10% nationally.  This legislation passed by a vote of 223-202.

Opposing excessive government spending.  Congressman Forbes voted against the final version of H.R. 2997, which funded agriculture and other programs at a level 12% higher than last year. The Congressional Budget Office announced last week that the federal budget shortfall for last year was the largest in history, at $1.4 trillion – three times the record set last year in 2008 of $459 billion.  The bill passed the House by a vote of 263-162. 

Reining in government spending.  Congressman Forbes opposed excessive spending by voting against the annual spending bill that funds the legislative branch. H.R. 2918 provides a six percent increase over last year's spending for congressional operations while the economy continues to struggle.  This bill passed by a vote of 217-190.

Opposed expansions of the federal government and excessive government spending. Congressman Forbes opposed H.R. 1018, the Restore Our American Mustangs Act. Among other things, this bill would establish a horse census every two years, provide "enhanced contraception" and birth control for horses, and mandate that government bureaucrats perform home inspections before Americans can adopt these animals. While the national debt is skyrocketing and unemployment is nearing double digits, this bill creates a $700 million wild horse and burro program. Congressman Forbes supported a substitute amendment which would have solely made it illegal to sell wild horses and burros for processing into commercial products and would have cost $2.5 million over five years. The bill passed the House by a vote of 239-185. 

Voted to control government spending by including annual federal spending under pay-go rules. Congressman Forbes supported an amendment to H.R. 2920 that would would base federal spending on a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It would cap total government spending at 21.7% of gross domestic product by 2015. The amendment failed in the House by a vote of 169 – 259. For more information on Congressman Forbes' work to control government spending, click here.

 

Voted against the statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2009. “Pay-Go” is a term used to describe a rule in Congress that requires any new spending and tax cuts to be offset by cuts or revenues somewhere else in the budget. This pay-go bill contained so many loopholes that it is ineffective. For example, H.R. 2920 exempts all discretionary spending from pay-go rules, which makes up 40% of all government spending.  Rising discretionary spending is one of the major reasons we are facing a massive federal deficit. Furthermore, some of the biggest spending proposals, such as the bailout and stimulus packages, would be exempt from pay-go altogether under this new bill.  H.R. 2920 passed the House by a vote of 265-166.  

 
Voted against increasing federal spending. Congressman Forbes voted against H.R. 3288, which contained a 20% increase in spending, or $11.1 billion, over last year’s level for transportation, housing and urban development programs. Since 2007, the nation’s deficit has exploded by more than ten-fold, from $162 billion in FY 2007 to $1.8 trillion in FY 2009. Over that same period, funding for programs within this bill has increased 146%.  This bill passed by a vote of 256-168.

 

Voted against excessive government spending. Congressman Forbes voted against H.R. 3293, which contained a 7% increase in spending, or $11.1 billion, over last year’s level for federal labor, health and human services, and education programs.  The bill also removes the ban on federal funding for needle exchange programs in the United States.  The bill passed the House by a vote of 264-153. 


Supported an amendment to restore “regular order” to the consideration of annual spending bills, a key step necessary for Members' voices to be heard on runaway spending. Appropriations bills are the federal government’s annual spending bills.  Traditionally, those bills have been considered under “regular order,” which means that any Member of Congress may offer an amendment to change any spending measure within a bill. This year House Leadership has turned down most of the proposed changes and pre-selected a small number of amendments for consideration on the House floor. This essentially shuts off the opportunity for Members of Congress representing varying districts and constituents from offering their proposals. 

Urged President Obama not to commit $100 billion to foreign countries. The President has asked Congress to approve a $100 billion line of credit to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).  Congressman Forbes sent a letter to the President Obama urging him not to commit the additional money to the IMF. Because the federal government is already $11 trillion in debt, the government would need to borrow the $5 billion in seed money, likely from China, to make this loan to the IMF. Russia, China, Brazil, and India have all announced that they will not make similar loans to the IMF.

Sent a letter to President Obama urging him not to commit an addition $100 billion to the International Monetary Fund. 

Called for the Federal Reserve to be audited. Congressman Forbes cosponsored H.R. 1207, which would order the Comptroller General to complete an audit of the Federal Reserve board and banks before the end of 2010. The Federal Reserve’s role has grown significantly due to the volatility in the financial markets. 

Supported a commission to address federal spending.  Congressman Forbes cosponsored H.R. 1557, which would establish a non-partisan commission to develop legislation designed to address: (1) the nation’s unsustainable deficits; (2) increase net national savings and economic growth; (3) study the implications of foreign ownership of U.S. debt; and (4) revamp the budget process to emphasize long-term fiscal responsibility. 

Opposed the 2010 Federal Budget resolution. Congressman Forbes voted against S. Con. Res. 13, the Conference Report for the Federal Budget. This $3.5 trillion budget proposal increases federal spending at a level that will result in the largest deficit in the nation's history. In addition, the legislation allows health care and energy tax legislation to bypass the conventional legislative process without adequate debate.    

Supported a commission to eliminate government waste. Congressman Forbes cosponsored H.R.1802, which would establish a bipartisan commission to evaluate federal agencies and programs to eliminate wasteful spending on duplicative, inefficient or outdated programs. The commission would make recommendations to Congress and the President for changes to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of taxpayer dollars.

Voted to debate the Budget.  Congressman Forbes supported a motion on H. Con. Res. 85, the 2010 budget resolution, which would have required any health care reform or climate change legislation to undergo debate and amendments to the proposals.  The motion failed to pass the House by a vote of 196-227.  H. Con. Res. 85, the $3.5 trillion budget proposal, will create more debt in the next ten years than the entire amount of debt accumulated by the federal government from 1789 to today.  Congressman Forbes supports amending the Constitution to control federal budgets by requiring the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress and force Congress to pass a balanced budget (H.J.Res.1). 

Met with the Board of Supervisors and County Administrator from Sussex County.  During the meeting, the Board and Rep. Forbes discussed the stimulus bill, the Navy’s ongoing study for an Outlying Landing Field in Virginia or North Carolina, and ways to spur economic growth in the County.

Voted against runaway spending in the federal budget. Congressman Forbes opposed the $3.5 trillion budget, H. Con. Res. 85, which will result in the largest deficit in history and create more debt in the next ten years than the entire amount of debt accumulated by the federal government from 1789 to today. Congressman Forbes supports controlling federal spending by requiring the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress and forcing Congress to make the decisions necessary to eliminate the federal deficit. Congressman Forbes is a cosponsor of H. J. Res. 1, the balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.

Cosponsored H. J. Res. 1, proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States. This resolution would reign in out-of-control spending by mandating that Congress not continue to increase our federal debt except under extraordinary circumstances and with three-fifths approval by each house of Congress.

Voted against the Conference Report on S.Con.Res. 70, the Congressional Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009-2013, which would create a $2,915 annual increase in federal taxes on the average taxpayer in the Fourth District. S.Con.Res. 70 increases spending by $526 billion over the next five years—from $2.9 trillion in FY 2008 to $3.4 trillion in FY 2013.  To pay for this increased spending, this proposal would impose the largest tax increase on American taxpayers in history—$683 billion over the next five years.  The Majority’s budget proposal would increase individual income tax rates, cut the child tax credit, bring back the marriage penalty, reduce small business tax credits, and raise dividends and capital gains taxes.  In addition, the Majority’s budget would not address entitlement spending and would raise the national debt by $646 billion in FY2009.

Cosponsored H.J. Res. 81, which would amend the Constitution of the United States to control federal government spending by prohibiting the federal government from spending more than 20% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).  The GDP is the dollar amount that represents the whole U.S. economy.  An exception can be made for years when a declaration of war is in effect or when the Congress votes by a two-thirds supermajority. 

Voted against H.Con.Res. 312, the Congressional Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009-2013, which would create a $2,915 annual increase in federal taxes on the average taxpayer in the Fourth District.  H.Con.Res. 312 would result in a tax increase that is more than double the tax rebate provided in the so-called “economic stimulus” package that was recently passed.  This budget proposal presented by House leadership would impose the largest tax increase on American taxpayers in history —$683 billion over the next five years.  In addition, the Majority’s budget would not address entitlement spending and would raise the national debt by $646 billion in FY2009.

Expressed disappointment after the House Budget Committee reported a Federal budget plan that will raise taxes for Virginians by an average of $3,120 per year.  Rep. Forbes said, “With the strain we are currently seeing on our economy - declining home value, slowing job growth, and rising energy and health care prices - the last thing we should do is raise taxes for our working families. Washington has enough of Americans' hard-earned money. Congress should instead focus on how to best spend the money that they already have, rather than taking more money out of the wallets of hardworking Americans."

Opposed the House version of H.R. 2764, the Fiscal Year 2008 Consolidated (Omnibus) Appropriations Bill, on December 17, 2007. While this version of the fiscal year 2008 funding bill met the President’s funding levels and included $11.2 billion in “emergency” spending, it restricted the use of funds for military operations in Iraq and included funding only for military operations in Afghanistan. Congressman Forbes voted in favor of the Senate Amendments to H.R. 2764 on December 19, 2007, which added $70 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan without imposing artificial time tables on our troops. This is critical funding for our troops in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the War on Terror. The President is expected to sign H.R. 2764, as amended, into law, which will complete the annual appropriations process for fiscal year 2008.

Joined Members of Congress in sending a letter to President Bush in support of entitlement reform. The letter calls on President Bush to meet with cosponsors of the SAFE Commission Act to talk about the need for entitlement reform. Earlier this year Congressman Forbes cosponsored the SAFE Commission Act (H.R. 3654) which will would institute a comprehensive review and reform of the United States tax and entitlement systems. With the first baby boomer signing up for Social Security a couple weeks ago, it is important for the United States to address this growing fiscal problem to ensure that future generations are left with a country that is financially solvent.

Voted in favor of H.J. Res. 52, which makes continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 2008. The resolution would extend federal government spending authority through November 16 for those agencies and programs whose FY 2008 appropriations bills were not enacted before FY 2007 ended on September 30, 2007. Spending for those agencies and programs will continue at the current FY 2007 level. H.J. Res 52 includes provisions to continue funding for programs such as the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and defense-related spending, including appropriations for the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, among others.

Cosponsored H.R. 3583, the Government Shutdown Prevention Act, which would provide for an automatic continuing resolution in the event that Congress does not pass a budget by the end of the fiscal year. This would prevent any political party from using the threat of a government shutdown as a political ploy. It would also prevent anyone from hiding earmarks in a Continuing Resolution.

Cosponsored H.R. 3654, the Securing America’s Future Economy Commission Act (SAFE Act), which would establish a commission to investigate entitlement spending, tax policy and all federal spending. The mission of the SAFE Commission would be to address the long-term problems facing our country such as foreign-held debt, solvency of Social Security and Medicare, increasing individual savings, and reforming entitlement programs to serve the most needy. The Commission’s recommendations would be submitted to Congress for approval.

Cosponsored H.R. 2084, the Family Budget Protection Act, which would reform the Congressional budget process to create a simple and legally binding budget. This would create five spending categories: mandatory spending, defense spending, non-defense spending, interest payments and emergency spending. Non-defense spending would be capped and would require approval by the Congress before it could be exceeded. The bill would also require emergency funds to be budgeted. In addition, H.R. 2084 would provide a legislative veto, biannual budgeting, and would sunset all discretionary programs every ten years.

Cosponsored H.R. 2380, the Death Tax Repeal Permanency Act, which would provide better financial stability to small businesses and family farms by eliminating the federal estate and gift taxes. This legislation would also make permanent the estate tax approved by Congress five years ago, set to expire in 2010.

Cosponsored H.R. 1304, the Motorsports Fairness & Permanency Act, which would permanently extend the tax depreciation provisions of the 2003 tax cuts, which are set to expire in 2008. This would allow the Richmond International Raceway and the Martinsville Speedway to plan for capital improvements to keep them competitive and keep motorsports thriving in Virginia.

Cosponsored H.R. 1576, the Tax Credits for Land Conservation Act, which would make permanent the tax credit for conservation easement donations. H.R. 1576 would raise the deduction a landowner can take for donating a conservation easement from 30% of their income in any year to 50%. In addition, this legislation would allow qualifying farmers and ranchers to deduct up to 100% of their income. Finally, H.R. 1576 would extend the carry-forward period for a donor to take tax deductions from 5 to 15 years. H.R. 1576 would help the Commonwealth achieve its goal of establishing 400,000 conservation acres.

Cosponsored H.R. 473, the SAFE Commission Act, which would establish a Securing America's Future Economy (SAFE) Commission that would review federal spending and develop legislation designed to address: (1) the unsustainable imbalance between long-term federal spending commitments and projected revenues; (2) increases in net national savings to provide for domestic investment and economic growth; (3) the implications of foreign ownership of federally issued debt instruments; and (4) revision of the budget process to place greater emphasis on long-term fiscal issues.

Cosponsored the Commission on the Accountability and Review of Federal Agencies (CARFA) Act, legislation that would establish a bipartisan commission to review federal agencies and programs in an effort to eliminate wasteful spending on duplicative, inefficient or outdated programs. CARFA would make recommendations to Congress and to the President for changes to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of taxpayer dollars.

Voted against H.Con.Res. 99, the 2008 Budget Resolution. This budget, which passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 216 - 210, would inflict the largest tax increase in American history - nearly $400 billion over five years and an average tax increase of $3,119 for Virginia taxpayers. Congressman Forbes voted in favor of the budget substitute amendment, which includes manageable spending, continued tax relief and reserve funding for emergencies. National advocacy groups in favor of this budget substitute include: Freedom Works, Citizens Against Government Waste, the Club for Growth and the National Taxpayers Union. For information on fiscally responsible legislation that Congressman Forbes has cosponsored, click here.

Voted against H.R. 1227, the Gulf Coast Hurricane Housing Recovery Act of 2007. In response to the disasters, the federal government has already committed more that $110 billion to help the Gulf Coast, including $16.7 billion for the Community Development Block Grant program. This legislation would give even more housing assistance for the areas of the Gulf Coast hit by hurricanes in 2005 (Katrina, Rita and Wilma). Congressman Forbes supports oversight of federal money spent to support the families affected by these disasters, but considered the additional impact this costly legislation would have on our deficit. Congressman Forbes supports responsible federal spending and has recently cosponsored additional legislation, the Emergency Spending Control Act of 2007, H.R. 1122, which would budget for emergency spending and clearly define what constitutes an emergency.

Cosponsored H.R. 1122, the Emergency Spending Control Act of 2007. This legislation would require justification from the President for all funding requests designated as an 'emergency.' It would create a separate reserve fund in the budget in anticipation of these emergency funding needs. The emergency cost of the hurricane season of 2005, including Hurricane Katrina, was over $110 billion. This bill would work towards ensuring emergency spending is more thoroughly reviewed and provided for in the budget.

Cosponsored a Balanced Budget Amendment, which will force Congress to enact fiscally responsible spending measures, reduce the deficit, and ensure that the money our citizens work so hard to earn is not spent on wasteful spending and programs. The bill requires that Congress not spend more than it receives in revenues, requires the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress, and requires a 3/5 majority vote to increase the debt limit. A Constitutional amendment will force Congress to eliminate unnecessary and wasteful spending and make the decisions necessary to balance the budget and eliminate the federal deficit

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