The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert
Speaker of the House of Representatives
H-232
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Speaker Hastert:
The 350,000-member National Taxpayers Union (NTU) views the House Budget Resolution as a first step in the fight to return discipline to a budget that has been out of control for the past four years. While NTU will support amending H. Con. Res 95 with the Republican Study Committee alternative, whether or not that amendment succeeds, NTU calls upon all Members to support the Budget Resolution as reported by the Budget Committee.
It is long past time for Congress to begin to restrain spending. OMB estimates that total FY 2005 outlays will be a stunning 33 percent higher than outlays in FY 2001. And rapid spending growth has occurred all across the budget -- not just in defense and homeland security. In fact, from FY 2001 through FY 2005, spending at the Department of Education will have grown at almost twice the rate of military spending. Spending at the Department of Agriculture will have skyrocketed up 40 percent. The Department of Energy's expenditures will have jumped 36 percent. Spending at the Department of Labor will have risen by 26 percent.
We are heartened by the agreement to change House rules to include a new point of order for appropriations bills that exceed the totals of the Budget Resolution. While more process reforms (such as those being proposed by both the RSC and the Blue Dog Coalition) are needed, this step gives much greater meaning to this Resolution.
The need for stronger enforcement mechanisms is clear from the record of the past half-decade. Despite the claims of some, budget aggregates proposed at the beginning of the year have not been adhered to during the appropriations process. For example, as we noted in our February 22nd letter to Chairman Nussle, FY 2005 outlays are projected to end up almost $80 billion above what the President requested for this year.
After the spending excesses of recent years, we're glad to see that H. Con. Res. 95 reduces non-defense related discretionary spending for the first time since the Presidency of Ronald Reagan. We're hopeful that Congress will continue with these reductions next year, and achieve even more discretionary savings. Also, for the first time since 1997, the Budget Resolution incorporates the reconciliation process to slow mandatory spending. Additionally, the Budget Resolution incorporates expiring provisions of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of assistance. NTU and its members look forward to working closely with you to make the budget as palatable as possible for taxpayers.
Sincerely,
John Berthoud
President
Cc: Majority Leader Tom DeLay
Majority Whip Roy Blunt
Rep. Deborah Pryce
Rep. John Shadegg
Rep. David Dreier
Rep. Jim Nussle
Rep. Mike Pence