(Washington, D.C.) – Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) commemorates tax day by calling on Congress and the President to root out and eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government.  In addition, CAGW demands that Congress freeze non-defense spending in the fiscal 2005 budget.

“Ben Franklin coined the term ‘a penny saved is a penny earned,’” CAGW President Tom Schatz said.  “Members of Congress should keep that adage in mind as there are billions of dollars, rather than pennies that could be saved by eliminating waste in the government.  The taxpayers would then be able to earn their money back in the form of a bigger refund check.”

As evidence of waste in the federal government, CAGW, in its Prime Cuts publication, has identified 548 wasteful programs that if eliminated would save taxpayers $1.2 trillion over the next five years.  Efforts have also been made in Congress.  Last year, House Budget Committee Chairman Jim Nussle (R-Iowa) included in the fiscal 2004 budget resolution orders for each committee chairman to identify at least one percent savings in mandatory spending within their jurisdiction.  This year, some of the identified $85 to $100 billion in waste, fraud and abuse over a 10-year period has been eliminated in the fiscal 2005 budget resolution.

“Identifying waste is only the first step,” Schatz continued.  “It is imperative that Congress rid the government of duplicative, outdated, and underperforming programs.  Only then will taxpayers get their money’s worth.  Congress also needs to go further by refusing to create any more wasteful programs or projects and spending the taxpayers’ money more wisely.”

Last week, CAGW published its 2004 Congressional Pig Book, identifying a record 10,656 pork-barrel projects that cost taxpayers an all-time high of $22.9 billion.  Pork projects included $50 million for an indoor rainforest, $225,000 to restore a pool in Sparks, Nev., and $200,000 for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

“Despite a $521 billion deficit, members of Congress still continued to fund their parochial projects, and pass the $534 billion Medicare bill, the largest entitlement expansion in history,” Schatz concluded.  “Such reckless spending will only increase Americans’ tax burden for years to come and make it harder for future generations to thrive economically.  It is time for Congress to cut the waste and return more money to the taxpayers.”

Citizens Against Government Waste is celebrating its 20^th anniversary as the nation's largest nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.