Boise News

Report: Congress

Minnick and Blue Dogs Call for Fiscal Reform

By Jill Kuraitis, 1-27-10

Idaho Congressman Walt Minnick and the fiscally conservative Blue Dogs in Congress have released the “Blue Dog Blueprint for Fiscal Reform” which they say offers concrete steps for reducing the deficit.

One of the proposals in the document will be introduced by freshman Minnick, who sits on the House Financial Services and Agriculture committees. The bill will offer a measure to allow “expedited recision” – requiring Congress to have an up or down vote on all presidential requests to reduce or eliminate specific pork-barrel spending and inefficient programs in appropriations bills.  This is a Constitutional form of the line-item veto, say the Blue Dogs.

“The lack of real fiscal accountability and responsibility in Washington, D.C., is one of the most pressing and serious problems facing our nation,” said Minnick. “Both parties are to blame for out-of-control spending, but the American people expect both parties to work together to solve this serious problem and make the same tough choices so many Idaho families are making during these difficult economic times. It’s time for real change in Congress, and that should begin with changing the way we spend taxpayer dollars.”

Here is the Blue Dog Blueprint for Fiscal Reform:

▪ The Blue Dogs have a proven track record of offering bipartisan, commonsense solutions to some of the country’s most pressing fiscal issues.  It is time to roll up our sleeves and make the tough decisions necessary to once again put the country on secure economic footing.

▪ Our underlying structural deficits are the biggest threat to our economic security today.  With this proposal, the Blue Dogs are putting forth concrete steps that can be taken to put the country back on a path to balanced budgets and long term fiscal sustainability.

▪ As independent voices for fiscal responsibility and accountability, the Blue Dogs recognize that the system is broken regardless of which party is in charge.  It is time to change the way Washington operates, and begin working together in earnest to develop solutions to these systemic problems.


A pathway to get from record deficits to long term fiscal sustainability
Budget experts from across the political spectrum agree that Congress must put a plan in place now in order to balance the budget within 10 years, and lay the groundwork for sound fiscal policies over the long term.  The Blue Dog Blueprint for Fiscal Reform is aimed at achieving these two critically important goals.

1.  Restore Pay-As-You-Go budget rules.  The first step we can take to ensure that government does not spend beyond its means is to restore the proven, bipartisan pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) rules that effectively brought about budget surpluses in the 1990’s.

2.  Put the lid on federal spending.  In addition to balancing the federal checkbook, Congress should set limits on discretionary spending.  Just like American families who make tough decisions every day, Congress must learn to live within its means.

3.  Cut programs that don’t work.  Congress must work with the Administration to identify and cut programs that don’t work.  A commonsense budget enforcement tool, “expedited rescission” was passed by the House with bipartisan support in the 1990’s.

4.  Reduce the deficit.  This tool forces Congress to live within its means by keeping our federal budget on setting a path towards balance. Congress would be required to cut spending to meet these targets, effectively reducing the deficit over time.

5.  Balance the budget.  A critical component of the plan, a constitutional amendment would require that Congress balance the budget by 2020.

6.  Be honest about our long term fiscal obligations.  Congress should be required to produce an honest and open assessment of the government’s long-term financial obligations as part of the budget resolution every year.

7.  Establish a bipartisan fiscal commission.  A fiscal reform commission should be established to force Congress’ hand in making the tough decisions necessary to put the country back on a fiscally sustainable path.

8.  Improve transparency and accountability.  Congress has a responsibility to hold government agencies accountable for wasteful spending.  This measure would reduce the estimated $98 billion that is wasted annually when a federal agency pays too much or pays twice for a product or service.

9.  Establish performance-based budgeting.  Performance-based budgeting is a results oriented budget tool that sets goals and performance targets for agencies, and measures their results, much like a small business.  It is a commonsense policy that has been successfully implemented on the state level for many years.

10.  Eliminate waste, fraud and abuse.  Research shows that for every $1.00 we put into “program integrity accounts” that identify and eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in government spending, we get $1.50 back.  The authorization levels for these programs should be increased.

11.  Account for every dollar.  Evaluating every dollar spent on our national defense is not only good fiscal practice; it is a matter of national security.  Like all other major federal agencies, the Department of Defense should be subject to annual audits.  Senators John McCain and Claire McCaskill have already introduced this measure in the Senate.

12.  Close tax loopholes.  It is critical that the federal government continue to identify and report loopholes and inefficiencies within the current tax system.  We can expand on these reports to reflect the total revenue lost and to identify inefficient tax subsidies.

13.  Take the politics out of the equation.  In order to promote efficiency and eliminate undue political pressures, this provision would transition the Joint Committee on Taxation to an independent, nonpartisan legislative branch agency.

14.  Eliminate duplication and inefficiency.  Government programs that are duplicative or inefficient can be a substantial drain on the federal budget.  Establishing an independent, bipartisan commission to recommend reorganizational changes to the federal government would help to streamline these programs and save taxpayer dollars.

15.  Review and terminate unnecessary federal programs.  A “Sunset Commission” should be established to conduct regular reviews of federal programs and agencies, and make recommendations as to those which should be terminated.

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