[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 17 (Wednesday, February 16, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H679]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                BLUE DOG'S 12-STEP PLAN TO COMMON SENSE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Cardoza) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CARDOZA. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to address our Nation's 
fiscal crisis. The Blue Dog Coalition, of which I am a proud member, 
has been a leading voice in Congress on fiscal responsibility for over 
a decade now.
  We are dedicated to fighting our Nation's ballooning national debt 
with every last breath we take, and we will continue to lead the fight 
for fiscal sanity until the Members of Congress from both sides of the 
aisle and the White House realize that we cannot continue to run our 
Nation deeper and deeper into the deficit hole.
  What comes as common sense to American families and the business 
owners across this country does not come that easily to Members of this 
Congress and especially to members of the administration.
  The Blue Dog Coalition 12-step budget reform plan that we introduce 
today injects just a little bit of common sense into the way that 
Congress and the White House does business. Our 12-step plan is the 
most comprehensive reform program to date and makes the attempted 
reforms in the President's budget look like child's play.
  Here is our plan: Number 1. Require a balanced budget. The Blue Dogs 
believe a balanced budget amendment is the only way to ensure fiscal 
discipline in Congress.

                              {time}  1530

  Number two, do not let Congress buy on credit. The Blue Dogs want to 
restore the budget rules that Congress once lived by, including pay-as-
you-go budgeting. Restoring PAYGO will put our Nation back on track to 
fiscal responsibility. We did it once before; we can do it again.
  Number three, put a lid on spending. The Blue Dogs want strict 
spending caps to slow the growth of runaway government programs.
  Number four, require agencies to put their fiscal houses in order. 
Sixteen of 23 major Federal agencies cannot complete a simple audit of 
their books. These agencies should be doing a better job of tracking 
the taxpayer dollars. The Blue Dogs propose a budget freeze for any 
agency who cannot balance its own books like Americans do their 
checkbooks.
  Number five, make Congress tell taxpayers how they are spending the 
money. Many spending bills slide through Congress on a voice vote with 
no debate. The Blue Dogs propose that any bill calling for $50 million 
in new spending must be put to a roll call vote right here on the floor 
of the House of Representatives.
  Number six, set aside a rainy-day fund. Forty-five States already do 
this. If the Federal Government had done it when we had surpluses as 
the Blue Dogs suggested then, we would be a lot better off right now.
  Number seven, do not hide votes to raise the debt limit. The current 
House rules allow for automatic increases in the debt limit. The Blue 
Dogs believe that increases in the public debt limit should not be 
hidden from public view. We want to make every increase in the debt 
limit subject to a rollcall vote.
  Number eight, justify the spending for pork barrel projects. Since 
1991 Congress has spent $185 billion on pet projects for Members. While 
many of these projects are worthy of taxpayer support, some are not. 
The Blue Dogs propose that Members of Congress provide written 
justifications for any earmarked spending for their pet projects.
  Number nine, ensure that Congress reads bills that are voted on. What 
a novel concept. Over the past few years, some of the largest spending 
bills in history have been voted on only after a few hours of 
consideration. The Blue Dogs propose that Members of Congress be given 
3 full days minimum to have the final text of legislation before there 
is a vote.
  Number 10, require honest cost estimates for every bill that Congress 
comes to vote on. There are no requirements that the bills come with an 
honest estimate of their fiscal impact. The Blue Dogs propose that 
every bill that comes to the floor of the House be accompanied by a 
cost estimate from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
  Number 11, make sure new bills fit the budget. The new legislation 
needs to live within the rules agreed upon by the annual budget 
resolution. The Blue Dogs propose that the Committee on the Budget 
strengthen its oversight rule by preparing budget-compliant statements 
for every bill that is considered by the full House.
  Finally, number 12, make Congress do a better job of keeping tabs on 
government programs. Blue Dogs believe that Congress needs to carry out 
its oversight responsibilities. We propose that each committee submit 
at least two reports a year that provide an update on how each 
committee is fulfilling its oversight duties.
  Our 12 steps are commonsense ideas that should transcend partisan 
differences. I hope that this Congress will adopt these measures as we 
attempt to restore fiscal responsibility for our Nation.

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