Walt joins call for steps to reduce spending, balance the budget

Washington, DC – Walt Minnick joined fellow members of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition to release a comprehensive plan for cutting spending and balancing the budget. The “Blue Dog Blueprint for Fiscal Reform” offers concrete steps for reducing the deficit in a common-sense, bipartisan fashion.

“The lack of real fiscal accountability and responsibility in Washington, D.C., is one of the most pressing and serious problems facing our nation,” said Minnick, a Congressman from Idaho. “Both parties are to blame for out-of-control spending, but the American people expect both parties to work together to solve this serious problem and make the same tough choices so many Idaho families are making during these difficult economic times. It’s time for real change in Congress, and that should begin with changing the way we spend taxpayer dollars.”

Experts and policy pundits from across the political spectrum have issued a common warning that Congress must act now in order to balance the budget and put in place policies for a sound fiscal future. The “Blue Dog Blueprint for Fiscal Reform” offers concrete proposals to achieve those goals.

One of the proposals will be introduced by Minnick in a bill. The freshman Congressman, who sits on the House Financial Services and Agriculture committees, will offer a measure to allow “expedited recission” – requiring Congress to have an up or down vote on all presidential requests to reduce or eliminate specific pork-barrel spending and inefficient programs in appropriations bills.  This is a Constitutional form of the line-item veto.

The fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition was formed in 1995 with the goal of representing the center of the House of Representatives and appealing to the mainstream values of the American public.  The Blue Dogs are dedicated to a core set of beliefs that transcend partisan politics, including a deep commitment to the financial stability and national security of the United States.  Currently there are 54 members of the Blue Dog Coalition. 

Blue Dog Blueprint for Fiscal Reform:

A plan to balance the budget, cut spending and secure America’s future

- The Blue Dogs have a proven track record of offering bipartisan, commonsense solutions to some of the country’s most pressing fiscal issues.  It is time to roll up our sleeves and make the tough decisions necessary to once again put the country on secure economic footing.

- Our underlying structural deficits are the biggest threat to our economic security today.  With this proposal, the Blue Dogs are putting forth concrete steps that can be taken to put the country back on a path to balanced budgets and long term fiscal sustainability.

- As independent voices for fiscal responsibility and accountability, the Blue Dogs recognize that the system is broken regardless of which party is in charge.  It is time to change the way Washington operates, and begin working together in earnest to develop solutions to these systemic problems.

A pathway to get from record deficits to long term fiscal sustainability
Budget experts from across the political spectrum agree that Congress must put a plan in place now in order to balance the budget within 10 years, and lay the groundwork for sound fiscal policies over the long term.  The Blue Dog Blueprint for Fiscal Reform is aimed at achieving these two critically important goals.

1. Restore Pay-As-You-Go budget rules.  The first step we can take to ensure that government does not spend beyond its means is to restore the proven, bipartisan pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) rules that effectively brought about budget surpluses in the 1990’s.

2. Put the lid on federal spending.  In addition to balancing the federal checkbook, Congress should set limits on discretionary spending.  Just like American families who make tough decisions every day, Congress must learn to live within its means.

3. Cut programs that don’t work.  Congress must work with the Administration to identify and cut programs that don’t work.  A commonsense budget enforcement tool, “expedited rescission” was passed by the House with bipartisan support in the 1990’s.

4. Reduce the deficit.  This tool forces Congress to live within its means by keeping our federal budget on setting a path towards balance. Congress would be required to cut spending to meet these targets, effectively reducing the deficit over time.

5. Balance the budget.  A critical component of the plan, a constitutional amendment would require that Congress balance the budget by 2020.

6. Be honest about our long term fiscal obligations.  Congress should be required to produce an honest and open assessment of the government’s long-term financial obligations as part of the budget resolution every year.

7. Establish a bipartisan fiscal commission.  A fiscal reform commission should be established to force Congress’ hand in making the tough decisions necessary to put the country back on a fiscally sustainable path.

8. Improve transparency and accountability.  Congress has a responsibility to hold government agencies accountable for wasteful spending.  This measure would reduce the estimated $98 billion that is wasted annually when a federal agency pays too much or pays twice for a product or service.

9. Establish performance-based budgeting.  Performance-based budgeting is a results oriented budget tool that sets goals and performance targets for agencies, and measures their results, much like a small business.  It is a commonsense policy that has been successfully implemented on the state level for many years.

10. Eliminate waste, fraud and abuse.  Research shows that for every $1.00 we put into “program integrity accounts” that identify and eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in government spending, we get $1.50 back.  The authorization levels for these programs should be increased.

11. Account for every dollar.  Evaluating every dollar spent on our national defense is not only good fiscal practice; it is a matter of national security.  Like all other major federal agencies, the Department of Defense should be subject to annual audits.  Senators John McCain and Claire McCaskill have already introduced this measure in the Senate.

12. Close tax loopholes.  It is critical that the federal government continue to identify and report loopholes and inefficiencies within the current tax system.  We can expand on these reports to reflect the total revenue lost and to identify inefficient tax subsidies.

13. Take the politics out of the equation.  In order to promote efficiency and eliminate undue political pressures, this provision would transition the Joint Committee on Taxation to an independent, nonpartisan legislative branch agency.

14. Eliminate duplication and inefficiency.  Government programs that are duplicative or inefficient can be a substantial drain on the federal budget.  Establishing an independent, bipartisan commission to recommend reorganizational changes to the federal government would help to streamline these programs and save taxpayer dollars.

15. Review and terminate unnecessary federal programs.  A “Sunset Commission” should be established to conduct regular reviews of federal programs and agencies, and make recommendations as to those which should be terminated.

Walt: I will not seek earmarks in 2010, beyond

Washington, D.C. – Idaho Congressman Walt Minnick has decided to make permanent a pledge he made in 2009, refusing participation in the Congressional earmark appropriations process.
“The unambiguous lesson of November 2008 and of last week’s election is that the American people want Congress to spend less money, and want us to approach major issues in an independent way. One significant step I can take to show I am serious about heeding those lessons is to refuse earmarks,” Minnick said. “The American people want to change the way Washington does business. We want a bipartisan approach that begins in the middle. We want more elected officials with the courage put constituents and fiscal responsibility before politics. And we want the battles and bickering to end, so that all of us can get down to the business of renewing and restoring America.”

Minnick is one of three Democrats and 37 Republicans who refuse earmarks. However, during his first year in office Minnick has been able to serve his constituents and bring home much-needed federal funding for Idaho’s First Congressional district. Whether it was helping the Payette Fire Department with a construction grant, assisting a Meridian business with a federal loan for manufacturing shot guns, championing a funding request from a rural education program or a recent announcement of $14 million for Idaho forests, Minnick has gotten the job done without seeking earmarks.

According to the Citizens Against Government Waste, there were 10,160 earmarks worth $19.6 billion in the 2009 appropriations bills. Minnick said in 2009 that he would refuse to participate in the earmark process due to the need for fiscal restraint in Washington, D.C, and says now that the ballooning federal deficit and difficult economy require even more fiscal discipline by Congress.

“We need to permanently change the earmark process and show the American people that we are committed to spending their money in a way that serves the best interests of the country,” Minnick said. “But that is only one step toward putting our country back on the track to fiscal health. We need a Constitutional amendment requiring Congress to balance the budget. We need a commission process that will force politicians to make the tough choices to fix the grave financial problems in entitlement programs. And we need to impose mandatory ‘pay as you go’ rules to make sure that Congress spends not one penny that’s borrowed from our children and grandchildren.”
INFO:
What are earmarks?

  * OMB defines “earmarks” as “funds provided by the Congress for projects, programs, or grants where the purported congressional direction (whether in statutory text, report language, or other communication) circumvents otherwise applicable merit-based or competitive allocation processes, or specifies the location or recipient, or otherwise curtails the ability of the executive branch to manage its statutory and constitutional responsibilities pertaining to the funds allocation process.” Office of Management and Budget

  * But the fact is that on occasion, earmarks have been used as a vehicle for waste, and fraud, and abuse. Projects have been inserted at the 11th hour, without review, and sometimes without merit, in order to satisfy the political or personal agendas of a given legislator, rather than the public interest. There are times where earmarks may be good on their own, but in the context of a tight budget might not be our highest priority. So these practices hit their peak in the middle of this decade, when the number of earmarks had ballooned to more than 16,000, and played a part in a series of corruption cases. Remarks by President Barack Obama

Is there another way?

  * First, I pledge to work directly with those who will put Idahoans back to work with focused projects to help local communities, by assisting them with applying for competitive, open grants through a process subject to public scrutiny.

  * Second, I pledge to continue seeking earmark reforms while voting against spending I do not believe is in the best interests - short term or long term - of Idaho or America.

  * And third, I pledge to listen, learn and evaluate my decision over the coming year while fighting in every way I can to get this economy moving again so we can restore fiscal discipline and balance the budget.
    Office of Congressman Walt Minnick, April 2009

Statement on Simpson op-ed

Congressman Walt Minnick (D-Idaho) issued the following statement about an op-ed released today by fellow Congressman Mike Simpson (R-Idaho):

“I want to publicly thank Congressman Mike Simpson for his words today about the need for a new approach in Congress. Our nation can more productively sort through difficult issues if we take the kinds of common-sense steps he outlines, steps I very much agree with and have advocated for during my time in Congress. As Congressman Simpson wrote, no party has all the answers. Instead, the answers rest within a new approach, one where all members of Congress can work together in the kind of common-sense, bipartisan way that I have been fortunate to develop with my friend and colleague from Idaho.”

Delegation seeks assistance for potato growers

Washington, D.C. - Idaho’s Congressional Delegation is asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to assist potato producers struggling due to a high supply of domestic potatoes and low prices.  In a letter sent to USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s Administrator, Idaho Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch and Representatives Mike Simpson and Walt Minnick are asking USDA to give favorable consideration to a pending request for purchase of fresh surplus potatoes for federal nutrition programs under the Section 32 program.

The Delegation detailed the considerable potato market challenges.  “The growing conditions for the 2009 Idaho potato crop were almost perfect resulting in record yields and excellent quality.  Therefore, the percentage of saleable potatoes is above average this year, and currently Idaho potato stocks on hand are nearly 13.5 percent more than last year’s stocks, despite Idaho shipping 4.5 percent more than 2008 volumes.  This situation has caused prices to drop, and prices have continued to be low for quite some time,” the Delegation wrote.

Further, the Delegation emphasized the difficulty potato producers are facing nationwide.  “Potato growers are struggling right now with their returns, which are quite low.  Without action, the combination of a high supply and low prices will drive many growers in the State of Idaho and throughout the country to go out of business.  In today’s financial market, trying to get financing for next year’s crops could be quite difficult when producers present the returns for this year’s crop,” the Delegation wrote.

$14 million for Idaho

Nampa, ID – The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Secretary Tom Vilsack will spend an additional $14 million to manage Idaho forests damaged by bark beetle infestation.

Secretary Vilsack pledged the funding late last month after speaking to Idaho Congressman Walt Minnick, who has worked in collaboration with fellow Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson to raise awareness of the serious threat facing Idaho forests.

“This issue has been one of my most important since taking office,” said Minnick, a first-term Idaho Congressman who spent nearly two decades as a business leader in the forest products industry. “I have been fortunate to spend most of my life enjoying time in Idaho’s forests and backcountry. I am committed to making sure that those forests are healthy so that they will not only be enjoyed but can also be managed to help strengthen Idaho’s economy.”

“Bark beetles are a huge menace to our forests, and throughout Idaho you can see the irreparable damage they are doing as dead and dying trees litter the mountainside,” said Simpson, who is Ranking Member of the Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee which funds the Forest Service.  “Sound forest management practices are necessary to battle the bark beetle infestation in the West, and I want to commend Congressman Minnick for his efforts in securing needed funding to implement these programs.”

Bark beetle infestation is advancing throughout the West, and has destroyed thousands of acres of previously healthy forests. The epidemic has negatively impacted forest health and has resulted in dramatic increases in dead and dying trees.

Secretary Vilsack recognizes that Western forests have experienced significant bark beetle infestation, and that Idaho forests are damaged and threatened. He directed $14 million to the National Forests in Idaho, above amounts previously allocated for forest management and conservation programs. The funds will accelerate actions to improve watershed resiliency, restore forest health and treat areas affected by bark beetles.

“Forest lands play a critical role in providing clean water and a healthier climate for all Americans, and the USDA is committed to protecting and preserving this important resource from pests like the bark beetle,” Vilsack said. “These funds will help manage our forests and improve their health for future generations, and I look forward to continuing to work with the Idaho delegation to address these important forest and watershed health issues together.”