James Sensenbrenner, June 17, 2005

When talking with folks at home, whether it is while visiting a business in Sullivan, at a Town Hall Meeting in Mequon, or at the annual Waubeka Flag Day parade, the conversation often turns to money. Specifically, that the federal government spends too much of it. And I agree. That’s why I am pleased that the House of Representatives is taking precise measures to draw down the deficit, all while providing needed tax relief and protecting our troops abroad.

Earlier this year, Congress passed a responsible budget for fiscal year (FY) 2006 that will cut our nation’s deficit in half by 2009. I voted in favor of this congressional budget conference report when the House passed it because I firmly believe it will help get our nation’s finances in order. This legislation not only reduces the deficit, it also gives Wisconsin families a break by granting an extension of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts. Furthermore, families and businesses in our great state and nationwide can take comfort in knowing that the FY 2006 budget does not raise taxes any further.

In previous years, the road to passing a sensible budget has been a long and difficult one. This predicament was largely due to obstructionist tactics used by some of my counterparts in the Senate. Thankfully, with the Senate’s addition of more fiscal conservatives following last year’s election, Members of Congress on both sides of the Capitol were able to work together this year to produce a budget that is on time and on target.

The House is now in the middle of the appropriations season, having completed the sixth and seventh of ten appropriations bills this week. During a time when the Democratic National Committee Chairman is creating waves with his disparaging remarks about Republicans, it is worth noting that the House is passing these bills in a bipartisan manner with overwhelming votes. Take for instance the Science and Departments of State, Justice, and Commerce Appropriations bill, which the House passed by a vote of 418-7 at $3.1 billion below President Bush’s request. With the passage of fiscally responsible bills like this, the House is striving to eliminate ineffective and costly programs, which lead to massive deficits and drive up the national debt.

I generally oppose omnibus appropriations bills because they are often fraught with Members’ frivolous pork barrel projects. For example, the FY 2005 Omnibus Appropriations bill included $2 million for kitchen relocation in Fairbanks, Alaska and another $2.3 million for an Animal Waste Management Research Laboratory in Kentucky. With projects like these, it’s easy to see how pork barrel spending has increased by $17.3 billion since 1995.

The seven appropriations bills passed thus far address our nation’s domestic priorities, and ensure that our servicemen and servicewomen are well-equipped to fight the war on terror, while holding the line on discretionary spending. This clearly proves that there is a bipartisan effort in the House of Representatives and that the Members of the House do listen to their constituents, who insist on a better use of their tax dollars, even while others are trying to undermine our efforts towards a responsible government.

There is no question that the deficit has grown to frightening levels as bureaucrats in Washington have taken the money Congress has appropriated and spent beyond their means. The federal government must be held accountable for its excessive shopping sprees. The House of Representatives recognizes the importance of tightening its purse strings and I am glad that we are on the right track to putting money back where it belongs - in the pockets of hard-working Wisconsinites.

Congressman James Sensenbrenner, a Republican, represents the Fifth Congressional District of Wisconsin. He serves as chairman of the House Committee on the Judiciary. The Fifth District of Wisconsin forms an arc surrounding Milwaukee to the North and West, and includes parts of Jefferson, Milwaukee and Waukesha counties, and all of Ozaukee and Washington counties.