Washington, D.C. – Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today put forth a list of economic policy prescriptions for President George W. Bush to include in his 2008 State of the Union address this evening.

Balance the Budget.  Congress can restrain the spending appetite of the federal government, and balance the federal budget without tax increases.  The Bush tax cuts gave working Americans much-needed relief, allowing them to spend, save, and invest which in turn stimulated the economy.  The tax cuts must be made permanent and wasteful spending must be eliminated. 

Earmark Reform.  An immediate option to address wasteful spending is for the President to issue an Executive Order instructing federal agencies to ignore the more than 11,000 earmarks found in the fiscal 2008 appropriations bills.

Energy.  Federal lands should be opened up to domestic energy companies and the market should be allowed to work without stifling regulations, higher taxes, and determining energy winners and losers.  That will encourage private investment and research that will develop cleaner and more efficient energy for the nation. 

Farm Bill.  If farm bill conferees fail to provide fundamental reform, President Bush needs to stick by his veto threat and send Congress back to the drawing board.  Depression-era farm subsidy programs must be replaced with either a revenue-based safety net or an insurance program that would enable farmers to mitigate weather and market risks, along with proposals to impose “means testing” and real payment limits.

Healthcare.  Instead of relying on more government intervention and regulation into healthcare, the President should support legislation that would establish a pathway to produce generic versions of biotech drugs and tax reforms to empower all families to obtain private health insurance.  Doing so will put the purchasing and decision-making power in the hands of consumers, not politicians and bureaucrats.

“President Bush would do well to incorporate our ideas into his final State of the Union.  The President has a chance to go a long way in restoring fiscal order to Washington by working to balance the budget and end earmarks.  He can lead the country toward responsible energy and healthcare solutions and leave the lasting legacy of a sound fiscal future,” CAGW President Tom Schatz said. 

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