- 01/04/11 10:57 AM ET
Incoming Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) hailed a measure cutting lawmakers' office budgets that will be one of the first official steps of the new Republican House.
Boehner praised a proposal crafted by Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) to cut lawmakers' budgets by 5 percent. The measure, estimated to save $35.2 million in the next fiscal year, is set for a vote on Thursday.
"To reverse Washington’s job-killing spending binge, sacrifices will be required throughout the federal government, and we are starting with ourselves," Boehner said in his first statement of the new year. "After taking this step, we will turn our attention to the rest of the federal budget, and the policies that are making it harder for small businesses to get people working again, including the job-killing healthcare law."
The Speaker-elect had first announced the plan to cut lawmakers' budgets in a post-election interview on "60 Minutes." The vote will be the first substantive one the new Republican House will take this week, following a vote on Wednesday on the new House rules and a ceremonial reading of the U.S. Constitution on Thursday morning.
While the cost-cutting measure won't make a large dent in the budget deficit, its construction is meant to set a theme of austerity and belt-tightening Boehner is seeking to usher in for the new Congress.
"More fundamentally, cutting the cost of Congress is part of bringing to the people’s House the humility and modesty our constituents are expecting from us. Delivering additional savings for taxpayers will, of course, require sustained vigilance on the part of all lawmakers and House officers," Boehner said. "By recommending cuts that will immediately save taxpayers $35 million, Greg Walden and the members of the transition team have gotten us off on the right foot.”
Boehner praised a proposal crafted by Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) to cut lawmakers' budgets by 5 percent. The measure, estimated to save $35.2 million in the next fiscal year, is set for a vote on Thursday.
"To reverse Washington’s job-killing spending binge, sacrifices will be required throughout the federal government, and we are starting with ourselves," Boehner said in his first statement of the new year. "After taking this step, we will turn our attention to the rest of the federal budget, and the policies that are making it harder for small businesses to get people working again, including the job-killing healthcare law."
The Speaker-elect had first announced the plan to cut lawmakers' budgets in a post-election interview on "60 Minutes." The vote will be the first substantive one the new Republican House will take this week, following a vote on Wednesday on the new House rules and a ceremonial reading of the U.S. Constitution on Thursday morning.
While the cost-cutting measure won't make a large dent in the budget deficit, its construction is meant to set a theme of austerity and belt-tightening Boehner is seeking to usher in for the new Congress.
"More fundamentally, cutting the cost of Congress is part of bringing to the people’s House the humility and modesty our constituents are expecting from us. Delivering additional savings for taxpayers will, of course, require sustained vigilance on the part of all lawmakers and House officers," Boehner said. "By recommending cuts that will immediately save taxpayers $35 million, Greg Walden and the members of the transition team have gotten us off on the right foot.”
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