"Congress could avoid problem by reducing spending," Schatz says

 (Washington, D.C.) – Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today expressed regret that Congress is preparing to raise the national debt limit yet again after increasing spending in fiscal year 2003.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Treasury Department warned that the government would be in danger of defaulting on its bills by late May unless Congress raises the debt ceiling, currently capped at $6.4 trillion.  The fiscal year 2003 budget raised non-defense discretionary spending by 2.8 percent over the previous year.

“The financial trouble faced by the federal government is the result of chronic overspending on behalf of Congress,” CAGW President Tom Schatz said.  “Unfortunately, Republican control of both houses of Congress does not seem to have significantly curbed the appetite for spending – even during a recession.  As a result, the national debt will continue to rise, increasing the future tax burden on hardworking Americans.”

In the first quarter of 2003, the government had to borrow a record $111 billion to cover the difference between spending and tax revenue, and it expects to borrow another $79 billion in the second quarter.  A major contribution to that irresponsible spending was the record-breaking $22.5 billion in pork projects that congressional appropriators tacked onto the 2003 appropriations bills.

The House voted to raise the debt ceiling to $7.38 trillion as part of a compromise budget in early April.  The Senate has yet to address the issue, but it is widely expected that the chamber will also vote to increase the limit to avoid breaching the $6.4 trillion cap.

“Members of Congress need to find the resolve to kick their addiction to higher spending levels each year,” Schatz concluded.  “This habit of constant borrowing to pay off debts is inexcusable.  Members of Congress should stop mortgaging the future of our children and grandchildren, and act fiscally responsible by restraining their appetite for new spending.”

Citizens Against Government Waste is the nation's largest nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.