[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 17 (Thursday, February 2, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H383]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                AMERICANS DESERVE HONESTY IN GOVERNMENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Alabama (Mrs. Roby) for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. ROBY. Mr. Speaker, Americans deserve a genuine and predictable 
government that shoots straight. As Thomas Jefferson wrote: ``The whole 
art of government consists in the art of being honest.'' How can the 
people hold their Representative accountable when Congress and the 
President distort the basic facts?
  Many of my colleagues and I are dismayed by the dysfunction in the 
process. We have seen firsthand the insider tricks and schemes to 
distort the budget and hide new spending. We've learned that these 
loopholes are deeply ingrained in the rules of Congress--they are 
institutionalized--and both Republicans and Democrats are guilty of 
exploiting them.
  The American people have a right to expect accountability, honesty, 
and transparency from their government. But every year Washington 
relies on a series of budget gimmicks and accounting tricks to conceal 
or enable deficit spending. With our Nation's debt nearing $16 
trillion, Washington must drop the budget games and commit to honest 
budget practices.
  Many of us believe we were sent here to Washington to do things 
differently and to insist on an honest and transparent government.

                              {time}  1100

  That's why I, earlier this week, along with 28 of my colleagues, 
introduced the Honest Budget Act of 2012, an important step to change 
the way Washington works and instill integrity into the budget process. 
This legislation is designed to root out the budget gimmicks most 
commonly used by politicians to hide the truth, confuse the public, and 
run up the national debt.
  Last year, Senator Jeff Sessions from Alabama introduced in the 
Senate similar legislation to strengthen the Senate's rules against 
budget trickery. Numerous conservative groups have endorsed Sessions' 
bill, including the Heritage Foundation, Americans for Tax Reform, and 
Citizens Against Government Waste.
  This legislation introduced in the House expands the Senate bill with 
similar rules for the House of Representatives to address nine specific 
budget gimmicks that, since 2005, have cost taxpayers more than $350 
billion and have consistently added to our deficit and our debt.
  For example, the legislation makes it more difficult to pass 
appropriation bills without first approving a budget. What a novel 
idea. The legislation also tightens rules regarding emergency 
designations and disaster designations to justify off-budget spending. 
It reveals both real costs and the real commitment on what the Federal 
Government is spending.
  The bill also prevents Congress from relying on phony rescissions, or 
claiming savings that are not savings unless they are real and genuine. 
That's common sense. Common sense dictates that you cannot account as 
savings money that was never going to be spent in the first place.
  A budget is a plan for this Nation's future. Americans deserve the 
truth. Mr. Speaker, given what I have witnessed over the last year, the 
only way to guarantee truth is to specifically root out and end the 
gimmicks.
  We're all keenly aware that the number 1 issue facing America today 
is jobs. We must continue to do all that we can here in Washington to 
create an environment that fosters job growth, and we will continue to 
do that. But we cannot overlook the fact that Washington spends money 
it does not have. Certainly, this reckless spending spree has 
contributed greatly towards our downward economy.
  The Honest Budget Act does not fix all of our problems, but it is a 
step in the right direction. In many respects, the Honest Budget Act of 
2012 embodies the spirit of transparency and accountability that unites 
many in my freshman class. The bill is a rallying point for those who 
truly want to put an end to tricks, gimmicks, and empty promises, and 
for all who believe that the American people deserve a government that 
they can trust.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to see this proposed 
legislation become law.

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