| For Immediate Release | Contact: Curtis Kalin 202-467-5318 |
| May 6, 2015 |
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) reacted to the passage of the Concurrent Budget Resolution for fiscal year (FY) 2016. While the budget takes many vital steps forward, CCAGW is concerned with the impact of several provisions.
By returning to standard budget operating procedure, Congress will help prevent the reemergence of bloated omnibus appropriations bills that have in the past become pork-laden monstrosities. Balancing the budget within a decade, repealing ObamaCare, and restoring principles of federalism to programs like Medicaid all ensure an improved fiscal picture going forward. The budget resolution also calls for the elimination or consolidation of duplicative and overlapping programs.
Nevertheless, CCAGW remains concerned about Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funding, which occurs outside of the spending caps under the Budget Control Act of 2011. While the budget resolution as passed by the House Budget Committee offset some of the increased spending in the OCO, the conference report contains no such provision. CCAGW is concerned that this may lead to additional efforts to more formally break the caps and end sequestration, which would unleash a flurry of excessive spending.
CCAGW President Tom Schatz said, “The House and Senate deserve credit for agreeing to a budget that makes strong strides forward for taxpayers in many significant areas. While no budget is perfect, the conference report helps to lay the groundwork for future efforts to cut wasteful spending. We expect the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to adhere to the sequestration spending caps for the FY 2016 spending bills and as always will provide committee members with recommendations that can help meet those levels of spending.”
The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste is the lobbying arm of the nation’s largest nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.
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