Help Me Cut Wasteful Spending
Statement
Dear Friends:
Now through YouCut, you can vote to decide where wasteful spending can be cut to reduce the mounting federal budget deficit. YouCut was started by my colleague, House Minority Whip Eric Cantor, to give you the opportunity to become involved in this key issue through the Internet at http://republicanwhip.house.gov/YouCut.
YouCut allows you to join with millions of others to vote each week on specific spending reductions which are later voted on by the House. Now in its eighth week, I have joined with other House Republicans in supporting $120 billion in spending cuts which were approved by over 1.3 million Americans voting at the YouCut web site through their cell phone or online.
A good example of these cuts was proposed by Congressman Mac Thornberry of Texas this week. It would have eliminated "sleeper class" service on Amtrak (including turndown service and private entertainment) which would save taxpayers up to $1.2 billion over the next decade. Despite the fact that only 16 percent of Amtrak passengers choose this first class fare, taxpayers are on the hook for more than twice as much for these passengers compared to those who ride in coach.
Each week, the public has voted on spending cut items proposed by members of Congress based on the principle that the federal government should sacrifice and tighten its belt just as you and your neighbors have done during this economic downturn. Among these cuts which were approved at YouCut were selling excess federal property, eliminating a federal pay raise for one year, reforming Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and prohibiting tax funding for promotional signs for stimulus spending projects.
As the American economy continues to stagnate with a near record 10 % unemployment rate and a record $1.4 trillion deficit, we need to do more to reduce our budget deficit and mounting government debt. YouCut allows you to become directly involved in this urgently important issue. I look forward to your thoughts and suggestions on how we can curb out of control federal spending.
Sincerely,
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Member of Congress
Source