FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 17, 2011

CONTACT:
James Allen
202-225-4165
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WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative John Carney today introduced legislation that would force Congress to vote yes or no on President Obama’s “terminations, reductions and savings” (TRS) proposal from the FY 2012 budget. The TRS proposal -- which identifies programs for termination or reduction if they do not accomplish their intended objectives, are not efficient, or replicate other efforts -- would save approximately $20 billion annually. But many TRS proposals are never acted on by Congress because both parties find portions of the TRS book to oppose.

“My proposal is very simple: it forces Members of Congress to vote yes or no on $20 billion in common sense budget cuts,” said Rep. Carney. “Congress has difficult decisions to make in order to address the nation’s serious fiscal problems, so we should be taking every opportunity to reduce or eliminate programs that don’t work. This straightforward legislation will expedite the budget process and help shrink the deficit.”

The legislation has five co-sponsors, including Cory Gardner, a Republican from Colorado. Prominent third-party groups have also endorsed the proposal.

 
Maya MacGuineas, president of the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, said: “The ‘Terminations, Reductions and Savings’ recommended by OMB represent the lowest of the low-hanging fruit in tackling the national debt, yet all too often Congress ignores them. While this bill alone won’t solve our fiscal problems, it will help Washington get serious about deficit reduction and fiscal responsibility.”

A one-page background document is attached.