Musgrave Moves To Trim Federal Spending By 1/2%

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Marilyn Musgrave (CO-04) worked to cut excessive federal spending by introducing an amendment that would trim ½ of a percent off an annual energy and water bill that exceeds the previous year's spending by more than $1.3 billion, or 4.3 percent.

The ½ percent Musgrave amendment was introduced during debate on Energy and Water Appropriations Act for FY08, the legislative measure that funds federal agencies such as the Department of Interior, Department of Energy, and the Corps of Engineers. The amendment failed by a vote of 166-267. Included in the Members voting against the measure were Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.

"I came to Congress to cut the size and scope of the federal government, not grow it. I am astonished that the majority party in Congress can't agree to trim federal spending by as little as one-half of a percent. Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer have clearly shown in their first few months of controlling Congress that they intend to feed Congress' spending habit and pay for it by raising taxes on hardworking families" said Musgrave. "Regardless of which party is in charge, I have vocally advocated for greater spending restraints because the national debt is at an all-time high. It's over $8.8 trillion."

"Congress is leaving a tremendous legacy of debt for the next generation. We must take responsibility for this burden by establishing federal spending priorities, setting spending caps, and eliminating unnecessary spending."

In addition, today's energy and water bill provides $12 billion in funds that were previously unauthorized, which means those funds were dropped in this bill by Democratic lawmakers on the powerful House Appropriations Committee for programs that were not approved through the regular committee process.

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