Once again, the United States Senate has let America’s taxpayers down. Yesterday afternoon a majority of Senators failed to approve H.R. 3, the Spending Cuts to Expired and Unnecessary Programs Act, which would have resulted in $15 billion in taxpayer savings in money that legally cannot be spent. It is disappointing that Senators from both sides of the aisle could not come together and pass a commonsense piece of legislation.
National Taxpayers Union was a key player in moving this legislation across the finish line in the House of Representatives. NTU led a coalition letter signed by 16 organizations, a vote alert, and an issue brief detailing what exactly was included in the rescissions package.
While we are disappointed that even small savings of $15 billion in unobligated spending could not muster enough support to pass Congress’ upper chamber, we are more concerned about the prospect of comprehensive entitlement and budgetary reforms to get America’s fiscal house in order.
The federal government is facing some serious long-term financial problems that make the fiscal situation of this country out of control. According to the latest report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) this April, the federal debt held by the public will approach nearly 100 percent of GDP by 2028, more than twice the average over the last fifty years. The 2018 deficit is estimated to be $804 billion, $242 billion more than the projected amount last year. The rising debt will be detrimental to the U.S. economy, increasing the chance of a fiscal crisis in the near future.
Congress has consistently rejected efforts to cut congressional funding, even when the cut was as small as 1 percent. In May 2016, House members blocked an amendment by Representative Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) that would have cut congressional funding by 1 percent in a 172-250 vote with 72 Republicans opposing the bill. In June 2016, 73 Republican legislators voted against Blackburn’s proposal to impose 1 percent cut to congressional funding in order to reduce the budget deficit in a 165-237 vote. In September 2017, another amendment by Blackburn to cut the funding for the Department of the Interior by 1 percent failed 156-248 in the House.
Congress will not be able to deal with the big spending problems effectively if it cannot tackle the “little” cuts in the rescissions. By killing the rescissions package, the Senate missed a great opportunity to lay the foundation for a responsible financial future that does not threaten the solvency of America.