RSC Releases Budget Proposal

On March 17, 2016, the House of Representatives’ Republican Study Committee (RSC), chaired by Rep. Flores (R-Texas), released its budget proposal.  The “Blueprint for a Balanced Budget 2.0” reduces spending by $8.6 trillion and balances the budget in 8 years by 2024.  Earlier in the week, the House Budget Committee, led by Chairman Tom Price (R-Ga.), had offered its own budget proposal, keeping previously decided spending levels ($1.07 trillion), while the RSC budget totals $974 billion.

The budget includes over 200 cuts and reforms to spending, many of which CAGW has championed in Congress.  Some of these reforms include:  an audit of the Defense Department’s finances, elimination of “official time” for federal employees, repeal of the charters for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, elimination of the sugar subsidy program, consolidating or eliminating duplicative government programs, restoring the work requirements for the TANF program, eliminate the National Labor Relations Board, a temporary freeze on regulations, the repeal of the Davis-Bacon Act to give more freedom to the American workforce, and making the ban on earmarks permanent.

While such an ambitious budget proposal is unlikely to pass the full House, many aspects of the budget could be included in the final budget.  The aspirational document shows a strong desire by the 172 members of the RSC to balance the budget without increasing taxes on Americans, as many Democrats and President Obama have suggested.  Taxpayers’ wallets can be protected not only by cutting or shrinking programs, but also through responsible reforms and accountability in the government. 

The full budget summary can be read here.