ACU Applauds Senators’ Proposal to Cut Spending

“ These seven senators are displaying the kind of fiscal responsibility that has been sorely lacking from the budget process…” –J. William Lauderback, ACU Executive Vice President

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The American Conservative Union, the nation’s oldest and largest grassroots lobbying organization today applauded the proposal by Senators John Ensign (R-NV), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Tom Coburn (R-OK), Jim DeMint (R-SC), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), John McCain (R-AZ), and John Sununu (R-NH) to offset the enormous costs being accrued from Hurricane Katrina relief efforts by cutting wasteful government spending and delaying the implementation of the Medicare prescription drug benefit package.

“This plan is a responsible way to ensure that hurricane victims receive adequate aid without adding more debt to an already corpulent federal deficit,” voiced ACU Executive Vice President J. William Lauderback. “We believe this is a positive step in the right direction.”

The plan proposes five major budget adjustments including a 5% reduction of all discretionary spending not related to defense or homeland security, a two-year delay of the implementation of the Medicare prescription drug benefit package, a temporary freeze on cost-of-living salary adjustments for all federal civilian employees, an enactment of the Medicare Part B income test provision, and the removal of pork projects from the 2003 Federal Highway Bill. In total, the proposed measures could save the American taxpayers between $70 and $115 billion over the next two years.

“These seven senators are displaying the kind of fiscal responsibility that has been sorely lacking from the budget process,” said Lauderback. ”We at the ACU hope that members of both houses will join them in these bold efforts.”

For more information or to arrange an interview, contact Molly Ford at (703) 836-8602 x16 or by e-mail at mford@conservative.org

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