(Washington, D.C.) - The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) today endorsed the Budget Control Act of 2011.  The Congressional Budget Office has found that the bill introduced by House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) would reduce the deficit by $22 billion in fiscal year 2012 and $917 billion over 10 years, which is greater than the $900 billion debt ceiling increase.  The bill also establishes a spending cap, requires a vote on a balanced budget amendment, and creates a Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to provide recommendations for further deficit reduction. 

“CCAGW has consistently supported much larger spending reductions than those included in the Budget Control Act,” said CCAGW President Tom Schatz.  “In an ideal world, the House-passed Cut, Cap and Balance plan would already be the law of the land.  But President Obama and the Senate have failed to lead, so action must be taken.  While no one knows exactly what will occur if Congress fails to increase the debt ceiling, everyone concedes that the consequences will not be constructive for the nation.  Taxpayers also comprehend that those who seek to put the brakes on the spending spree in Washington have already won the debate; the question is how much will be cut and how fast will it occur.”

“It is not possible to get somewhere by going nowhere.  Without setting the process in motion to cut the deficit and debt, there is no chance that future efforts will bear fruit.  Failure to advance the ball simply yields the field to those who keep pushing their plan to massively raise taxes, a bankrupt idea whose advocates are part of the tax-and-spend-more crowd in Washington.  It is unacceptable to taxpayers, who know that overspending is the problem,” Schatz added.

“Any claims by the White House that the debt ceiling increase must go past the next election are based on politics, not past practice.  Since August 2007, the debt ceiling has been increased six times, from $9.8 trillion to $14.3 trillion, and the average length has been about eight months.  One of those votes occurred on October 3, 2008, one month before Barack Obama was elected,” Schatz said.

“We sympathize with the objections of members who believe the Budget Control Act is insufficient.  However, we cannot take the necessary steps toward getting the nation’s finances under control in the future unless this bill passes the House today, and we urge members to vote yes,” Schatz concluded.

The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) is the lobbying arm of Citizens Against Government Waste, the nation’s largest nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.