Issue Position: Fiscal Responsibility & Government Accountability

Issue Position

Issue Position: Fiscal Responsibility & Government Accountability

(see also: Open Government)

"Unfortunately, inertia often becomes the rule in Washington, D.C. Inefficient agencies, outdated programs and increasingly complicated taxes can attain the status of immortality. And it's all augmented by a Congressional addiction to increased spending. From property taxes to income taxes, the overall tax burden continues to rise. This year, Texans will have to work from Jan. 1, 2007, through April 19, 2007, just to pay their combined taxes for the year. The U.S. remains a great place to innovate and do business. What troubles me is that in this budget Congress is not proposing to eliminate a single program or government agency. Though the administration budget process includes an annual review of ongoing programs, Congress isn't doing its part. Our country has prospered because the Founding Fathers provided for limited government and maximum personal freedom. But keeping that legacy requires our constant vigilance."

-- Senator John Cornyn

As a member of the Senate Budget Committee, Senator Cornyn believes that Congress must be a good steward of the taxpayers' money. The people must have confidence that Congress spend their money wisely, eliminate wasteful and redundant programs and establish clear accountability for government programs and agencies. Fiscal responsibility is the cornerstone for good governance.

Senator Cornyn's Accomplishments include:

* Amendment to slow future income tax rate increases: While the Senate was considering the budget for fiscal year 2008, Senator Cornyn authored an amendment that would create a point of order against raising income taxes by requiring 60 votes to pass any legislation that increases income tax rates on the American people. He fought to include his bipartisan amendment in the 2008 budget and the Senate passed his amendment by a vote of 63-35, but Democrats stripped it out in the conference on the budget with the House of Representatives--despite unanimous passage of a measure instructing the Senate's negotiators to include it in the final budget.
* The United States Sunset and Authorization Act of 2007 (S. 1731): In June 2007, Senator Cornyn introduced legislation that is modeled after the sunset process the state of Texas established in 1971 to identify and eliminate waste, duplication and inefficiency in government agencies. S. 1731 creates a federal "sunset" commission that will evaluate all unauthorized and nonperforming federal agencies and programs the government continues to fund.
* Reforming Government Programs: In 2006 and 2007, Senator Cornyn introduced an amendment to the budget that would have reformed runaway entitlement spending, saved taxpayers billions of dollars and reduced the debt.
* Stop Over-Spending (S.O.S.) Act of 2007: In May 2007, Senator Cornyn joined several of his colleagues in introducing legislation to control federal spending, reduce the deficit and curb runaway entitlement spending. The Stop Over-Spending (S.O.S.) Act of 2007 would require Congress to reduce the growth of "mandatory," or entitlement spending, if deficit targets are not met. It would also institute automatic across-the-board reductions in discretionary spending if Congress can't meet established spending caps. Also included in the comprehensive package is Senator Cornyn's 60-vote point of order against legislation that increases income taxes.
* Reducing the Deficit: Supported the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA) that slows down the rate the federal government spends the taxpayers' money by $100 billion over ten years. DRA was the first time that Congress had taken a hard look at ways to find savings for the American taxpayers in almost a decade.
* Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (P.L. 109-282): Senator Cornyn cosponsored legislation requiring the federal government to publish an easy-to-read online database of all federal spending. The Congressional Research Service estimates that federal agencies award over $830 billion dollars annually in three primary categories: $460 billion in grants, $340 billion in contracts, and $30 billion in direct loans. Taxpayers have the right to know how their tax dollars are being spent, and this website will help them track federal spending.
* Transparency in Congressional Earmarks: Senator Cornyn cosponsored a resolution (S.Res.123) requiring Congress to publicly disclose funding earmarks before votes occur on funding bills. Congress has the power of the purse and may direct how and where federal agencies spend taxpayer dollars. Congress must be held accountable during this process and avoid secrecy, which invites abuse and masks pork barrel spending.
* Supporting grassroots speech: Senator Cornyn cosponsored an amendment to the 2007 Ethics bill (S.1) to ensure the freedom of association and grassroots political speech protected by the First Amendment.

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