Johnny Isakson's Position Statement on Federal Spending
The American people have sent a clear message that they will no longer tolerate the federal spending spree in Washington. It is time we demanded from our government the same thing every American has had to do for themselves: prioritize spending and live within our means.
I have introduced and/or cosponsored several pieces of legislation to try to rein in federal spending, reduce the debt and change the way Washington does business.
Biennial Budgeting
During my time in the U.S. Senate, I have repeatedly co-sponsored or introduced legislation to reform the chaotic and inefficient federal budget process. My latest version is the Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act, which has significant support from both sides of the aisle.
My legislation would help end reckless spending by converting the annual federal budget process to a two-year cycle, with one year for appropriating federal dollars and the other year devoted only to much-needed oversight of federal programs.
One of the problems in Congress is that we rarely make time to perform a careful, thorough review of federal spending. Therefore, Congress continues to spend money on projects that shouldn’t be funded with tax dollars and programs that have outlasted their usefulness. A biennial budget system is an idea that has been endorsed by each successive president since Ronald Reagan, as well as numerous federal budget experts.
Balanced Budget Amendment
I have repeatedly cosponsored a constitutional amendment requiring Congress to balance the federal budget. With our national debt skyrocketing past an unprecedented $14 trillion and our deficit spending surging to $1.5 trillion, it is urgent that Washington get its fiscal house in order. These spending habits are unsustainable and jeopardize the financial future of our country.
The CAP Act
I also co-sponsored the bipartisan Commitment to American Prosperity Act, or the CAP Act, which is designed to significantly reduce federal spending by tying spending levels to the gross domestic product. The CAP Act would eliminate the deceptive “off-budget” distinction for Social Security – providing a complete and accurate assessment of all federal spending. The legislation would also put in place a 10-year glide path to cap all spending (discretionary and mandatory) at a declining percentage of the country’s gross domestic product, eventually bringing spending down to the historical level of 20.6 percent of GDP. If Congress fails to meet the annual cap, the legislation authorizes the Office of Management and Budget to make evenly distributed, simultaneous cuts throughout the federal budget to bring spending down to the pre-determined level. Only a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress could override the binding cap.
Congressional Budget Accountability Act
In 2011, I introduced the Congressional Budget Accountability Act to guarantee that any unspent funds from senators’ office budgets must be used to pay down the national debt or reduce the deficit.
Members of Congress should be good stewards of taxpayer dollars and that begins in their own Congressional office budgets. I have personally returned over $3 million of my annual Congressional budget to the Treasury as a former member of the House and as a current member of the Senate.
Federal Budget Process
I believe in increased transparency and disclosure in the appropriations process, and that is why since March 2008, I have supported a moratorium on earmarks to enable Congress to create new disciplines in the earmarking process.
I will continue to consider funding requests for strong Georgia projects that are critical to both our state and nation. In determining whether to submit requests to the Senate Appropriations Committee for funding, I will look to see whether the project is within the state of Georgia, whether there is a clear constitutional and federal role in the project, whether the project has been authorized in previous legislation by Congress and whether it has received prior funding from Congress. I am committed to transparency, and I have made my federal funding requests available to the public on my website in an effort to promote accountability.
Please click here if you would like to view my federal funding requests for Fiscal Year 2013, Fiscal Year 2012, Fiscal Year 2011, Fiscal Year 2010 , Fiscal Year 2009 and Fiscal Year 2008.
As I have done since first being elected to Congress in 1999, I will continue to work for spending restraint and fiscal responsibility. In addition, I will push for Congress to address the biggest concerns of my constituents – skyrocketing federal spending and debt.
E-mail: http://isakson.senate.gov/contact.cfm
