Tiahrt to Congress: Cut Wasteful Government Programs
Congressional Desk
April 03, 2009
Legislation aims to eliminate duplicative and inefficient spending on government programs
WASHINGTON—U.S. Congressman Todd Tiahrt (R-Goddard) introduced legislation that would force Congress to vote on eliminating waste, fraud and abuse from federal agencies and programs. The Commission on the Accountability and Review of Federal Agencies (CARFA) Act would establish an independent commission charged with the responsibility of reviewing non-defense, non-entitlement federal government agencies and programs. The concept is modeled after the military´s Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC).
The commission would make recommendations to Congress for programs that can be eliminated or realigned to save taxpayer dollars. Congress would then be required to bring those recommendations to the floor for an up-or-down vote. Tiahrt said the bill was written to ensure Congress acts quickly on recommendations to reduce the size of the federal government making it more efficient and saving taxpayer dollars.
"Once we have a recommended list of programs that need to be eliminated or consolidated, we want to ensure that Congress takes swift action," said Tiahrt. "The tendency in Washington is to keep growing the size of the federal government. My bill requires a vote in Congress based on an independent commission´s recommendations that would reduce the size of government.
"Right now we are looking at a $3.6 trillion budget from President Obama and Washington Democrats. We have just spent a trillion dollars on a so-called stimulus bill, and billions of borrowed taxpayer dollars are being spent on bailouts for irresponsible corporations. Now more than ever, we must address an inefficient federal government that wastes taxpayer money and spends too much.
"CARFA will help bring fiscal responsibility and accountability into the federal government. Rather than allowing the Democrats in Washington to continue borrowing and spending more money for bigger federal programs, CARFA will work to eliminate unproductive, duplicative and outdated programs."
The Heritage Foundation has estimated that over $100 billion could be saved by eliminating ineffective federal programs.
WASHINGTON—U.S. Congressman Todd Tiahrt (R-Goddard) introduced legislation that would force Congress to vote on eliminating waste, fraud and abuse from federal agencies and programs. The Commission on the Accountability and Review of Federal Agencies (CARFA) Act would establish an independent commission charged with the responsibility of reviewing non-defense, non-entitlement federal government agencies and programs. The concept is modeled after the military´s Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC).
The commission would make recommendations to Congress for programs that can be eliminated or realigned to save taxpayer dollars. Congress would then be required to bring those recommendations to the floor for an up-or-down vote. Tiahrt said the bill was written to ensure Congress acts quickly on recommendations to reduce the size of the federal government making it more efficient and saving taxpayer dollars.
"Once we have a recommended list of programs that need to be eliminated or consolidated, we want to ensure that Congress takes swift action," said Tiahrt. "The tendency in Washington is to keep growing the size of the federal government. My bill requires a vote in Congress based on an independent commission´s recommendations that would reduce the size of government.
"Right now we are looking at a $3.6 trillion budget from President Obama and Washington Democrats. We have just spent a trillion dollars on a so-called stimulus bill, and billions of borrowed taxpayer dollars are being spent on bailouts for irresponsible corporations. Now more than ever, we must address an inefficient federal government that wastes taxpayer money and spends too much.
"CARFA will help bring fiscal responsibility and accountability into the federal government. Rather than allowing the Democrats in Washington to continue borrowing and spending more money for bigger federal programs, CARFA will work to eliminate unproductive, duplicative and outdated programs."
The Heritage Foundation has estimated that over $100 billion could be saved by eliminating ineffective federal programs.
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