NTU urges all Representatives to vote "YES" on Representative Jim Jordan's amendment to H.R. 5850, the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. This amendment would reduce spending by $18,579,000,000 in order to reflect FY 2008 levels.
H.R. 5850 contains a total of $67.4 billion in discretionary spending, which is 0.7 percent below last year's level. While any display of prudent budgeting in a time of trillion-dollar deficits is welcome, this slight cut in appropriations will hardly restore the kind of genuine fiscal responsibility taxpayers seek. H.R. 5850 essentially locks in FY 2010 funding levels, which in themselves are unsustainable when our nation is faced with a $13 trillion debt.
Furthermore, H.R. 5850 has allotted $1.76 billion for Amtrak, a program that continues to exhibit questionable governance and little competitive motivation. Doling out billions in pork is never wise policy, but it is particularly disturbing given the current economic climate. Congress must enact more sizeable reductions to regain any credibility on the vital issue of spending restraint.
If you have any questions, please contact:
NTU Federal Government Affairs Manager Jordan Forbes at (703) 683-5700