(Washington, D.C.) – Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today welcomed the introduction of Rep. Tom Feeney’s (R-Fla.) Conservative Check Card, expressing hope that its widespread use might lead to a reduction in waste, regulation, and overall spending by the federal government.  The wallet-sized cards, which are being distributed by the Republican Study Committee, contain six principles of sound government.  They can be used by members of Congress and their constituents to quickly evaluate proposed legislation.

“The federal budget keeps ballooning in the face of more discussions about fiscal restraint,” CAGW President Tom Schatz said.   “Conservative Check Cards make it less convenient for lawmakers to toss aside fiscal sensibility when it’s time to vote or craft legislation.”

Card carriers are invited to consider whether the bill in question would reduce the size of government, eliminate entitlements and abolish unneeded programs and regulations.  The second principle calls for lower taxes to allow people to spend their own money.  Lower taxes and a smaller government can then promote other values listed on the cards, such as personal responsibility and individual freedom.
“Limited government is rarely a priority for members of Congress when they make their decisions,” Schatz continued.  “They are more focused on allocating money to projects like the Alaska Spruce Bark Beetle Task Force and the National Center for Peanut Competitiveness.” 

Rep. Feeney successfully promoted a similar card when he was the Speaker of the House in Florida.  There, the cards were used effectively in keeping legislation that threatened taxpayers off the floor.
“One could only hope that these cards will have the same effect at the federal level as they did in Florida,” Schatz continued.  “The $22.9 billion in pork that Congress dished out in this year’s appropriations bills shows that elected officials have no discipline or concern for using taxpayer dollars effectively.”

CAGW’s 2004 Congressional Pig Book identified 10,656 pork projects, an increase of 13.8 percent over last year; the $22.9 billion total cost is a 1.6 percent increase.  The group’s Prime Cuts report identified $1.3 trillion in potential savings over five years.

“Check cards can simplify legislation that often stretches for thousands of pages and rarely gets read by members of Congress.” Schatz concluded.  “By cross-checking every bill against the principles of sound government, perhaps lawmakers can alleviate the undue burden on every taxpayer.”

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