One Subject at a Time: Stop the Annual Spring Spending Spree

Quotes of the Day:

“Designating war spending as an unforeseen emergency year after year is a farce that is designed to help politicians avoid hard budget choices.” Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Texas)

“I do not believe we can continue to bring up bills under the justification of emergency legislation that violate the spirit if not the letter of PAYGO (pay as you go).” – Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA)

Every year, Congress considers “emergency” funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and then loads the bill with pork and unrelated legislation – such as the union legislation we wrote about yesterday.

Then they cover for their fiscal recklessness by claiming opponents don’t “support the troops.” This happens EVERY year.

And in addition to the $84 billion (or more) bill, the House is also considering a separate “emergency” $200 billion so-called “jobs” bill with several unrelated provisions.

The good news, however, is that some in the majority party are concerned about how these bills will add to the deficit.

Let’s encourage them to fight! Tell Congress to oppose these bills and pass DownsizeDC.org’s One Subject At A Time Act (OSTA) instead.  
 
You may borrow from or copy this sample letter . . .

On Wednesday, the national debt clock passed $13 trillion. http://www.usdebtclock.org/

And this year’s federal budget deficit is $1.56 trillion.

Now, your colleagues are it again: It’s time for Congress’s Annual Springtime Spending Spree, brought to you by increased taxes and inflation costs, for which I’ll have to pay.

What can you do about it?

In an age of out-of-control deficits, a law that would limit bills to just One Subject would be a good step . . .

* It does not stop necessary legislation
* But it ends the corrupt practice of log-rolling which explodes the deficit
* And it weeds out wasteful, unneeded, and unpopular provisions from bills

We need OSTA more than ever. The $200 billion House “jobs” bill extends some tax existing tax policies, but then adds to it . . .

* more Medicare spending
* more Medicaid bailouts of the states
* more COBRA funding
* yet another extension of unemployment benefits.
* and tax hikes that will “pay” for only about 30% of these costs

Meanwhile, the Senate is busy tacking on to the “war” supplemental . . .

* FEMA funding
* a “summer jobs” program for youth
* more troops to the Mexican border
* $23 billion to prevent teacher lay-offs.
* settling lawsuits by African-American farmers and Native Americans
* unionization of state and local employees
* and who knows what else

OPPOSE BOTH BILLS! YOU should introduce OSTA instead. OSTA would . . .

* break these bills down into their different subjects
* give Congress the opportunity to prioritize
* make it more likely that the more costly and harmful bills will never see the light of day
* which will help slow the growth of the deficit

OSTA is a common-sense reform that will encourage Congress to behave more responsibly. I see no reason why you wouldn’t introduce it, UNLESS . . .

You are part of the problem!

END LETTER

You can send your letter through DownsizeDC.org’s Educate the Powerful System.

And here’s a handy url for you share with friends and Tweet: http://tinyurl.com/2wslpxc

Thanks for taking action!

Jim Babka
President
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

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