The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) reacted today to consideration of the fiscal year (FY) 2016 Budget Resolution in the House and Senate. For the first time in many years, Congress is following standard procedures in the course of adopting a budget.

On Wednesday, March 25, the House voted 228-199 to approve its preferred proposal. The House Budget Committee report on its version of the budget resolution referenced Citizens Against Government Waste’s cost-cutting efforts as a resource for eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse. In a letter to the House, CCAGW observed that H. Con. Res. 27, as reported by the Budget Committee, would cut spending by $5.5 trillion over 10 years and balance the budget by 2025. The bill maintains the spending caps established by the 2011 Budget Control Act, fully repeals Obamacare, and eliminates “double dipping” of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Unemployment Insurance. The letter also cited the consolidation of duplicative programs as a vital part of the proposal.

CCAGW also sent a letter to the Senate today, asking senators to support or oppose a total of 55 amendments to the FY 2016 Senate Budget Resolution.

Among the 51 amendments supported by CCAGW, the following are particularly noteworthy:

  • Deficit Neutral Reserve Fund (DNRF) for a biennial budget and appropriations process, offered by Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.)
  • Reforming the federal sugar program, offered by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.)
  • DNRF; encouraging federal agencies to use existing office space before buying or leasing new space, offered by Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.)
  • DNRF; streamlining overlapping programs identified by GAO, offered by Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.)
  • DNRF; ensuring that people do not simultaneously collect SSDI and unemployment benefits, offered by Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.)
  • Budget Point of Order (BPOO) to prohibit earmarks, offered by Sen. Flake
  • Eliminates funding for the Economic Development Administration, offered by Sen. Flake
  • SNRF; sale of excess federal land, with proceeds to reduce the debt, offered by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah)
  • SNRF; prevents FCC reclassification of broadband providers as common carriers, offered by Sen. Lee
  • DNRF; permanently extend Internet Tax Freedom Act, offered by Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.)

The following amendments were among those opposed by CCAGW:

  • Strikes underlying section on conversion to dollar coins, offered by Sen. David Vitter (R-La.)
  • DNRF; long-term reauthorization of Export-Import Bank, offered by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.)

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

CCAGWCurtis Kalin, 202-467-5318