Owens Returns More Than 15 Percent Of 2009 Office Budget

Press Release

Owens Returns More Than 15 Percent Of 2009 Office Budget

Representative Bill Owens today announced that he has returned over $40,000 of his 2009 Congressional office budget to the United States Treasury to help pay down the federal deficit.

"As Northern New Yorkers everywhere are tightening their belts more than ever, so too must every member of Congress," said Owens. "We cannot seriously talk about being a good steward to the taxpayer or being fiscally responsible without practicing the same standards as our working families back home."

When Members of Congress produce a budget surplus by the end of a calendar year, they have the option to return the overage to the U.S. Treasury. Rep. Owens took office in November of 2009 and was presented with a prorated annual budget. Despite opening four New York office locations and a Washington office in less than two months, Owens still produced a surplus of nearly 20 percent of his total allowance.

Rep. Owens' return of more than $40,000 is consistent with his fiscally responsible voting record. In his first few months in office, he has voted twice against raising the nation's debt ceiling and voted in favor of enacting the Pay-As-You-Go system which was responsible for the budget surpluses experienced a decade ago.

"There are no silver bullets or quick fixes to get our economy back on the right track," added Owens. "It takes both Democrats and Republicans working together toward a common goal of turning our economy around and growing quality jobs."

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