Yesterday evening, Congressman Mike Pompeo introduced yet another amendment designed to cut Washington spending during House consideration of appropriations for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies for the 2013 fiscal year (H.R. 5326). Although it failed, the Pompeo Amendment gained significant support from conservatives and good government organizations such as Americans for Tax Reform, Americans for Prosperity, Club for Growth, National Taxpayers Union, Heritage Action, and Citizens Against Government Waste. The amendment mirrors a stand-alone bill--also authored by Pompeo--which seeks to eliminate an entire government agency called the Economic Development Administration (EDA), which is housed within the Department of Commerce. Today's amendment sparked a spirited debate on the House Floor, but it ultimately failed on a vote of 129-279. Pompeo will continue to build support for his bill.
Established in 1965 as part of President Lyndon Johnson's Great Society, the EDA has spent over $1.5 billion on taxpayer-funded grants since 2005. Similar to earmarks, the Administration uses the EDA to advance local projects that narrowly benefit a particular company or group of people. Put simply, the EDA picks winners and losers by region, industry, and community using Americans' tax dollars.
Should the Pompeo stand-alone bill to eliminate the EDA pass, the measure would save taxpayers $219 million for this coming year and up to $3 billion over the next 1O years, resulting in the most significant elimination of a federal agency in decades. Last night's amendment was a solid effort, but Congressman Pompeo will continue to educate his colleagues about the merits of this important legislation.
Congressman Pompeo released the following statement:
"At its core, the EDA is a wealth-redistribution program that siphons money away from Kansans so that the federal government can use it elsewhere--all in the name of economic development. If those who talk constantly about rolling back the unsustainable size and scope of the federal government are serious, then they will support my efforts to eliminate the EDA. My legislation will completely eliminate funding of the EDA, totaling over $219 million in 2013, and it would send that money to the spending reduction account to start to pay down our debt. Eliminating the EDA could save up to $3 billion over ten years. It's time to halt the EDA, and the rest of the federal government, from using our money on a failed stimulus-style spending model. We must begin to cut everywhere we can, and while this amendment was a solid step toward that goal, it is not the end of the line for this effort," said Pompeo.