Despite War Congress Still Ratchets up Outlays

“Both Parties are Increasing the Deficit,” says Schatz

(Washington, D.C.) – Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today chastised congressional appropriators for disregarding the President’s budget requests for the 13 fiscal 2004 spending bills and for adding billions of additional dollars despite the war with Iraq.  

“The president’s budget, submitted to Congress in February, outlined generous spending increases in defense and homeland security,” CAGW President Tom Schatz said.  “But it also included cuts and reforms in wasteful programs and agencies so as to maintain a semblance of fiscal discipline.  Appropriators have no such restraint, and are overspending the president overall.  The president should veto all bills in which Congress surpassed the funding request.” 

“Amazingly, the President has just submitted a $87 billion supplemental request to pay for the cost of the war with Iraq and the war on terrorism continues, yet appropriators are doing nothing to curb spending,” Schatz continued.  “Historically during times of war Congress has cut domestic spending.  Non-defense spending was cut by 37 percent during World War II, and 25 percent during the Korean War.  Congress needs only to look at history for direction.”

“As the appropriations bills head to conference committee, the costs will only escalate as appropriators load up on pork.  Last year there was a record-breaking 9,362 pork-barrel projects costing taxpayers $22.5 billion.  Congress is on pace once again to break their record.  Since appropriators have no fiscal restraint, the President will have to step in,” Schatz concluded. 

Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, mismanagement and abuse in government.