House GOP to Force Vote on Federal Government Spending Freeze TODAY
Federal Spending Freeze Will Cut Billions in Pork-Barrel Earmarks and Unnecessary Democratic Spending
Washington,
Mar 6, 2009 -
Today’s jobs report is yet another reminder of how much families and small businesses are hurting. Their savings are evaporating, their job prospects are weakening, and their costs of living are rising. Consequently, they are being forced to make difficult budget decisions each and every day.
Isn’t it time for Washington to make some tough budget choices as well?
For the last several weeks, as the $410 billion “omnibus” spending bill has made its way through Congress, House Republicans have been calling for a spending freeze for the remainder of the fiscal year, which ends in September. After all, if American families are making difficult choices about how to cut their family budgets, shouldn’t Congress and the Administration do the same?
During today’s debate on a continuing resolution to keep the federal government running until early next week – a resolution that’s necessary while congressional Democrats determine exactly how they plan to enact the $410 billion monstrosity – House Republicans will offer a simple, straightforward federal spending freeze as a motion to recommit proposal.
What does the spending freeze mean? For starters, it means taxpayers won’t be forced to bankroll the some 9,000 unscrutinized earmarks loaded into the omnibus spending bill. It also means Americans won’t have to shoulder the financial burden of the largest discretionary spending hike since the Carter Administration (save for a brief increase after the September 11 terrorist attacks). It would simply keep the federal government running for the rest of the fiscal year without the massive spending increases Washington Democrats are seeking.
The Associated Press reported on the House GOP’s call for a spending freeze this morning:
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“The top Republican in the House is seizing on the latest spike in unemployment to call for a freeze on government spending and to urge President Barack Obama to veto a $410 billion spending bill.”
“Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, said the jump in unemployment to 8.1 percent and the loss of 651,000 jobs in February is a sign of a worsening recession that demands better solutions from both parties.”
“Boehner criticized the spending bill as chocked full of wasteful, pork-barrel projects. The Senate postponed a vote on the bill until Monday amid the criticism.”
“Boehner said he hoped Obama would veto the bill. He urged the president to work with House Republicans to impose a spending freeze until the end of this fiscal year.”
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With families, seniors, and small businesses facing difficult budget decisions, shouldn’t Washington have to make some of those same tough choices? House Republicans think the government should. Do Democrats? The American people won’t have to wait too long to find out. The vote on the spending freeze will occur in a matter of hours.
