Washington, D.C. – The following remarks were made by Council for Citizens Against Government Waste President Thomas A. Schatz at a Capitol Hill news conference today. Schatz joined members of Congress to urge Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) to keep his promise he made to House leaders by calling for a minimum of $101 billion in tax cuts in this year’s budget resolution.

“When the Republicans won control of Congress in 1994 they promised to balance the budget, reduce the size of government and provide real tax relief for the American people.

“Quite frankly, the Republicans have done a pretty decent job in delivering on those promises.  Hundreds of federal agencies have been zeroed out, middle America is benefiting from a number of small tax cuts and the budget is not only balanced, but is scheduled to run a surplus for the first time in 30 years.

“But a closer look at the numbers shows that this Congress has benefited most from the hard work of the American people.  Since 1994, when the Republicans took over, revenues to the federal treasury have increased by a whopping 25.4 percent.

“Taxpayers are responsible for this surplus which could be as high as $500 billion dollars over the next five years.  They have earned a rebate.  At minimum, Americans deserve the $101 billion in tax cuts for which the House leadership is asking.  That figure represents a mere 1.1 percent of a $9.1 trillion of projected federal spending over the next five years.  CCAGW expects Sen. Lott to stick to his promise by accepting no less than $101 billion in tax cuts.”

CCAGW is a nonpartisan, nonprofit lobbying organization dedicated to enacting legislation to eliminate waste, inefficiency, mismanagement and abuse in the federal government.