Plattsburgh Press-Republican - Owens to Turn Back $95,000 in Office Budget

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By Unknown

North Country Congressman Bill Owens will return more than $95,000 of his 2011 Congressional office budget to the United States Treasury to help pay down the federal deficit.

This is the third consecutive year that he has returned surplus office funds to the treasury, according to a news release from his office.

In addition, Owens also voted to cut more than $75,000 from his budget from last year, creating a total of $170,000 in savings of taxpayer funds.

"As New York families and small-business owners continue to tighten their belts, so, too, must every member of Congress," he said.

"We cannot seriously talk about reducing the national debt and deficit without first operating our own offices in a fiscally responsible manner. I am pleased to return this portion of my office budget to the treasury to help pay down the deficit."

In addition to trimming his own budget, Owens has co-sponsored legislation to cut his own salary, voted twice to freeze cost-of-living-adjustments for members of Congress, and wrote to House Speaker John Boehner asking that congressional and presidential pay be suspended in the event of a government shutdown.

This year, Owens also voted to pass H.R. 2551, the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, which reduced the 2012 office budget for every member of Congress by 6.4 percent.

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