Letter to Congress: Where to Start Cutting to Trim the Deficit

Agriculture, Budget & Tax, Energy & Natural Resources, Infrastructure, National Security, | Our Take

Jan 11, 2011 | 3 min read | Print Article

Today Taxpayers for Common Sense delivered to leadership in both the House and Senate a report on how Congress can quickly cut nearly $150 billion from the federal budget. See one of our cover letters that accompanied this report below or download this PDF .

Also download the full report here: TCS Recommended Budget Cuts for 112th Congress

January 11, 2011

The Honorable John Boehner
Speaker of the House
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Mr. Speaker:

Taxpayers for Common Sense offers the attached list of programs we believe to be good places to begin reducing the deficit. These proposed cuts reflect research over our 16-year history of identifying wasteful spending and would save $148 billion over five years. We will submit additional proposals for improving our fiscal health in the coming weeks and months.

Our list includes cuts that have been viewed by some as off limits, like wasteful defense spending or eliminating certain tax expenditures, or “tax earmarks.” As you know, the federal budget, like any business or household budget, has two sides of the ledger: expenditures and revenues. This is why we think any plan to put the federal budget on a path to sustainability must address both federal income and spending. In fact, on the revenue side, like the spending side of the ledger, there are many “low-hanging fruit”: tax provisions that are not only ineffective and perhaps counterproductive, but also hugely expensive in terms of foregone revenue – revenue better used to address pressing needs, fund effective programs, or reduce the deficit.

We believe in the power and possibility of government to be part of the solution, and that government taxation and spending should produce the best possible return on investment for taxpayers, or be cut. We have five simple principles we follow when looking for ways to cut government costs:

1. If it doesn't work, don't fund it; if we don’t need it, don’t buy it.
2. Cut unnecessary subsidies and corporate welfare.
3. Avoid unnecessary long-term liability for the taxpayer.
4. Expose and stop corruption.
5. Don’t just give away government assets.

Thank you for your leadership in ensuring government is more effective and efficient. This is the moment to make reforms that will ensure our country continues to be the strongest, most vibrant in the world – a goal we all can support. I look forward to meeting with you to discuss these issues further.

Sincerely,