Letters to Congress  

(pdf version) The Honorable Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 May 7, 2008 Dear Madam Speaker: Taxpayers for Common Sense is concerned that the Fiscal Year 2008 Supplemental spending bill you will be considering Thursday has not yet been made publically available and apparently will not proceed through the normal committee process. Now, six years into the Global War on Terror, it is clear that additional spending is a relatively predictable and should be included in the annual spending bills. The emergency designation is only a convenient means to avoid considering the funding under existing budgetary rules. By rushing the bill to the floor without public or committee review, you are contributing to the notion that this is an emergency. In fact, the emergency appropriations for the I-35 bridge collapse in Minneapolis, Katrina, and 9/11 all were sent through the Appropriations Committee. All of these were unforeseen emergencies and yet the House decided to honor the normal committee process. We urge you to send the FY08 Supplemental spending bill through the Appropriations committee and make the bill available to the public at least 48 hours prior to consideration. Failing to follow the established legislative process represents a slippery slope that could damage the integrity of the House. Sincerely, Ms. Ryan Alexander President

Taxpayers for Common Sense is a non-partisan budget watchdog that serves as an independent voice for American taxpayers.  Now in its second decade of service to the nation, TCS seeks to ensure that our government spends taxpayer money efficiently and responsibly by working to eliminate wasteful and harmful federal spending.