CAGW Applauds Formation of Washington Waste Watch 7/16/2003
From: Mark Carpenter of Citizens Against Government Waste, 202-467-5300 WASHINGTON, July 16 -- Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today applauded Representatives Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), Tom Feeney (R-Fla.), and Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) for their efforts to eliminate government inefficiency through the formation of Washington Waste Watch: A Working Group to Combat Government Waste, Fraud and Abuse. Along with several other members of the freshman class, they plan to alter the rising tide of deficit and debt by identifying the shocking amounts of wasted tax dollars, and to suggest legislative solutions to the problem. "This is a critical first step in the struggle against what has become a way of life on Capitol Hill," CAGW President Tom Schatz said. "The fact that some members of Congress are willing to take a stand and combat waste gives hope to American taxpayers that there still are politicians on their side." The group hopes to draw more attention to the issue of wasteful spending by holding one hour special orders on the House floor on a regular basis, currently slated for each Wednesday Congress is in session. At that time, they will list items such as overpayments by federal agencies, lack of oversight, duplicative programs, and fraudulent practices that cost taxpayers billions. Furthermore, they will work to provide incentives for government workers to identify and eliminate waste, push for better accounting standards within agencies, and the elimination of repetitive programs. "Originating out of the Grace Commission, CAGW has been dedicated to identifying and eliminating waste for the past 19 years," Schatz continued. "Often times candidates campaign on the issue of fighting government waste, but when they get to Washington they are infected with spending fever. It is rewarding to see freshmen lawmakers standing up for what they believe in and protecting taxpayers from the glut of wasteful spending." In fiscal 2002, CAGW's Prime Cuts publication offered 543 recommendations throughout the government that, if enacted, could save taxpayers more than $180 billion in fiscal 2003 and $1.3 trillion over the next five years. Prime Cuts provides a blueprint for a smaller and more competent government that would limit the use of taxpayer dollars to only those programs that are essential. CCAGW also identified $22.5 billion in pork-barrel spending in its 2003 Congressional Pig Book. "The case for efficient government comes down to the lawmakers," Schatz concluded. "The most any of us can do is research and make recommendations -- it takes dedicated representatives like Mario Diaz-Balart, Tom Feeney and Jeb Hensarling to implement the necessary reforms and finally put an end to government waste." ------ Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, mismanagement and abuse in government. |