[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 5 (Wednesday, January 12, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E55]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         FEDERAL FURLOUGH BILL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE COFFMAN

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 12, 2011

  Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, as a former small businessman 
and former state legislator, I am horrified at the unlimited ability of 
the federal government to deficit spend. Small businesses have to 
balance the books, or they go out of business. And unlike the 
spendthrift ways prevalent in this building, state governments 
generally have to balance their budgets.
  Recently, at least 24 states, and nearly \3/4\ of a million workers, 
have undertaken a budget-cutting maneuver that I believe we should 
consider at the federal level: short term employee furloughs. These 
states, across the nation, along with city and county government 
counterparts, recognize that occasional worker furloughs are necessary 
to cut budgets and hold down spending. It also has the benefit of 
ensuring that federal workers are not sheltered from the realities of 
life in today's economy.
  The federal government continues to grow, and continues to rack up 
debt. I would like to make the U.S. Government as cost conscious as the 
states. My legislation is a start. It will make Federal civilian 
employees subject to a non-consecutive two week furlough next year, 
correspondingly reduce appropriations for salaries and expenses for 
offices of the legislative branch, and provide a 10 percent reduction 
in pay for Members of Congress. An exception is provided for national 
security or reasons relating to the public health or safety, including 
effective law enforcement. This bill will save the federal government 
over $5.5 billion.
  Furlough Fridays and other such ideas are becoming a common 
occurrence for state and local governments. They present slight 
problems but they provide large solutions to the budget troubles we 
face. I believe that managed appropriately, with due allowance for 
vital and national security implications, as specified in this bill, 
they can do the same for the federal government.

                          ____________________