Blue Collar Muse

Given the furor over billions in earmarks loaded into the Omnibus bill passed by Congress, it’s nice to know not all federal legislators are unconcerned about the matter. Congressman Jack Kingston (GA-01) released a statement yesterday that highlighted legislation he crafted along with fellow members of the Republican Conference Frank Wolf (VA-10) and Tennessee’s own Zach Wamp (TN-03).

According to Kingston’s press release,

The Kingston/Wolf/Wamp legislation calls for a Joint Select Committee on Earmark Reform composed of 16 members equally appointed by the majority and minority parties of each house of Congress to study earmarks of all kinds. While the committee conducts its study, no earmarks, congressionally directed spending items, limited tax benefits or limited tariff benefits could be considered until the report is filed.

I’m particularly fond of the provision that calls for a moratorium on all earmarks until the report is filed. I wonder how long we could allow the report to languish in committee?

In addition to the provisions of the proposed legislation, known as H Con Res 263,

… the Republican Conference adopted the following standards for all earmarks:

*No more “monuments to me.” Lawmakers should not use taxpayer money to fund projects named after themselves.

*No more “airdrops.” The process by which Congress spends the American people’s money should be completely transparent. Members of Congress should not circumvent transparency by airdropping earmarks into bills in conference at the last minute.

*No more “fronts” or “pass-through” entities. Taxpayer funds should not be laundered through “front” operations that mask their true recipients.

*Members of Congress who request earmarks should put forth a plan detailing exactly how the money will be spent and why they believe the use of taxpayer funding is justified. Members of Congress who “secure” earmarks should place these plans in the Congressional Record well in advance of floor votes on those earmarks.

*To improve accountability, Members of Congress should require outside earmark recipients to put up “matching funds” where applicable so that American taxpayers do not bear all the risk for such expenditures.

*The Executive Branch should be held accountable for its own earmark practices. The Executive Branch asks for earmarks, too, and has done so under administrations Democratic and Republican alike. Members of Congress should hold present and future Administrations accountable for the way in which taxpayer-funded earmarks are used.

This is the sort of common sense proposal and legislation that we expect and need from our elected representatives. Please contact Congressmen Wamp, Wolf and Kingston and express your thanks for their work and call your Congressman and tell them you want them to support the measure. It’s just the first step in doing away with the waste and corruption that we call earmarks. But at least we’re moving in the right direction.

A special thanks to Zach Wamp from his fellow Tennesseans! Keep up the good work!

Blue

Popularity: 34% [?]

Heading into Michigan and South Carolina, and enjoying an uptick in interest and momentum following Thursday night’s GOP debate hosted at FOXNews, over the weekend the Thompson campaign released Fred’s plan to reduce Federal Spending. It’s not a particularly long read and it is thin on implementation. However, as a good overview on how Fred would address and approach spending and the budget process in general it’s quite good.

I’m including just the bullet points here. Each one has a paragraph or more of explanation at Fred’s official site. For the detail on the bullets, click through to Fred’s campaign.

THOMPSON PLAN TO REDUCE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPENDING

In 2007, the federal government’s spending rose to an astounding $2.8 trillion– the equivalent of $22,000 per household. Growth in federal government spending, however, rarely translates into better services for the American people. Solutions for many public policy problems are best found in the private sector, and then at the State and local level–not in Washington, DC. Indeed, the federal government loses billions every year due to ineffective programs, poor management, waste, and fraud. And, the problem is getting worse. Within the next five years, federal spending is expected to reach more than $3.2 trillion, or about 20 percent of our economy; more than half of this amount is mandatory spending for entitlements. Increasing government spending is not the answer to our country’s problems. It is time to get it under control with better solutions and better management of our federal government.

Balance the Budget and Eliminate Underperforming Programs

Congress has consistently refused to balance the budget and address the deficit. In fact, federal spending continues to grow at rates double inflation. This rate of growth in federal spending is not sustainable and must be brought under control. The following actions will result in better control of the growth of non-defense discretionary spending:

1. Limit Non-Defense Federal Spending to Inflation.

2. Implement a One-Year Hiring Freeze Pending Completion of Federal Government Strategic Assessment.

3. Conduct a Comprehensive Cost-Benefit Analysis of All Federal Programs.

Enact Meaningful Earmark Reform

Congressional earmarks add up to tens of billions of dollars each year. In Fiscal Year 2006 alone, the cost to the American taxpayer was more than $64 billion. Even more disconcerting is the fact that many earmarks do not benefit the America people but only serve to support special interests. To accomplish real and meaningful earmark reform, the following actions must be taken:

1. Provide President with Line-Item Veto Authority.

2. Direct Agencies to Ignore “Soft” Earmarks.

3. Propose Legislation on Earmark Procedures.

Eliminate Improper Government Payments and Prosecute Fraud

Many government agencies cannot pass an audit. In 2007 alone, the government made more than $50 billion in improper payments. On top of that, fraud costs the American taxpayer tens of billions of dollars a year. Government regulations also reduce innovation and competitiveness. The following policies would address these problems:

1. Eliminate Improper Payments.

2. Increase the Prosecution of Fraud.

3. Hold Executives Accountable.

4. Propose Regulatory Improvement Legislation.

Reform Entitlement Programs

Entitlement spending is threatening to engulf the American taxpayer in a tidal wave of additional costs, as millions of Americans begin retiring over the next several years. In fact, spending on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid is growing so fast that within 40 years it will consume the entire federal budget. This is unsustainable. The following initiatives will help restore the fiscal solvency of these programs:

1. Save and Protect Social Security.

2. Ensure Future Viability of Medicare and Medicaid.

Popularity: 31% [?]