A Budget Investigation into the Legislative Branch: Congressional Joint Items

Transcription

1 A Budget Investigation into the Legislative Branch: Congressional Joint Items May 16, 2011 In a continuance into the investigation of the federal budget in regards to the legislative branch it is important to remember the minimal amount of savings currently available to the People. Savings in the Senate: $523,052,100 Savings in the House: $1,838,157,500 Total Savings: $2,361,209,600 It is now time to look into the funding that the legislative branch has allocated as joint items. One might assume that the elected members of Congress would work together to benefit the People, as per the duty of their office; however this does not seem to be the case. This analysis is broken down into two sections. The first, areas in which savings can be provided now, and section two, where savings could be provided later after further details about the budget are provided. Section I: The following section of the Joint Items consists of areas where savings can be provided to the People. Joint Committees: Salaries and Expenses of the joint Economic Committee $4,895,000 Salaries and Expenses of the joint Committee on Taxation $11,617,000 The committees are populated by members of the Senate and the House of Representatives and their staff; of which, both have already received a salary and benefits. These two committees represent a small portion of both Houses of the legislative branch of government, and report back to the whole. Other than supplies, what would these two committees need funding for? They could hire additional staffers, but then what would we need them for, and would it be a committee of each House, or a committee of non-elected officials making assumptions and decisions and the actual elected official voting yes or no? The Committee on Taxation could be completely removed if the government were to implement a flat tax, since there would be no more reason to compromise on who shall or shall not receive tax breaks. If either committee were to exist, any funds in which they do so need, should then be drafted on an individual need, as appropriation bills in the House of Representatives during that fiscal year. Savings: $16,512,000 Salaries and expenses of the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services $1,437,000 The OCC was created by the enactment of The Congressional Accountability Act (CAA) in The CAA currently applies thirteen civil rights, labor, and workplace safety & health laws to the United States

2 Congress and its Legislative Branch agencies, requiring them to follow many of the same employment and workplace laws applied to the private and public sectors. How does a legislative body that writes and establishes laws for the country not capable of applying it to their offices? Could it not be said, that if they cannot accomplish this task, without procuring an additional service of experts, to which additional funds are necessary to pay for this service, the average business would not be able to do so? If those who write the laws don t understand the laws, then we should not need the laws. Savings: $1,437,000 Salaries and Expenses for the Congressional Budget Office $47,289,000 The Congressional Budget Office raises several questions that have been long debated in the philosophical world of governance. 1. To whether one generation should bind another with debt ; ( the earth belongs in usufruct to the living. Jefferson). 2. If a piece of legislation is going to create a debt in the future, would it not seem plausible to either, not pass the legislation as is, or pass the legislation with an end date, until reestablished by the future generation. 3. Should a generation spend on a yearly basis millions of dollars, to determine if spending millions of dollars is frugal and appropriate? There is no doubt that the CBO provides a service that is worthy, however budgetary numbers can be manipulated based on the cost estimates input into the system. Can there ever be a clear definitive number to be placed into an estimate? Can we foresee the economic future? Legislation should allocate funds that it has available, not what it hopes in the best case scenario of a dream, might possibly bring. This should significantly be cut to cover the staff of the CBO. Without further details as to the necessary costs for the staff, the budget will be cut to $1,000,000. AS for allocations for cost estimates to Congress, they can either be acted upon as it would be in the private sector, an additional service in which Congressional Members pay for with their expense account as per their request, or as the need arises should then be drafted on an individual need, as appropriation bills in the House of Representatives during that fiscal year. Savings: $46,289,000 Section II: The following section of the Joint Items consists of areas of duplication or where further detailing of allocations should be provided. This section is not considered in the savings analysis for the legislative branch, but could provide hundreds of millions of dollars in savings with a more thorough investigation into a more detailed budget.

3 Salaries and Expenses for the Congressional Research Service $119,919,000 The Congressional Research Service works exclusively for the United States Congress, providing policy and legal analysis to committees and Members of both the House and Senate, regardless of party affiliation. As a legislative branch agency within the Library of Congress, CRS has been a valued and respected resource on Capitol Hill for nearly a century. If the Congressional Research Service is an established arm of the legislative body, then why do the following areas exist within each House separately? The Senate: Salaries and Expenses of the Legislative Counsel of the Senate $7,531,600 Salaries and Expenses of the Legal Counsel of the Senate $1,570,000 The House: Salaries and Expenses of the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the House $3,365,000 Salaries and Expenses of the Office of the Legislative Counsel of the House $9,052,000 Between these two bodies there is an allocated $21,518,600 (with new budget allocations as previously discussed this number would be cut to $4,935,000). At the present time the legislative branch has allocated $141,437,600 in external professional research in addition to each Member and their staff. The duplication of services should be removed. Salaries and Expenses for the Books for the Blind and Physically Handicapped $71,549,000 The expenses for books for the blind and physically disabled should be allocated under the Library of Congress budget, and detailed disbursement of funds allocated should be provided. Government Printing Office $96,652,000 Salaries and Expenses of the Office of Superintendent of Documents $44,208,000 Government Printing Office Revolving Fund $25,700,000 The Government Printing Office provides publishing and dissemination services for the official and authentic government publications to Congress, Federal agencies, Federal depository libraries, and the American public. The GPO provides government documents to the government and the People. In the digital age, the GPO should provide Members of each government branch digital copies of information, and a certain number of printed documents for each branch (executive, legislative and judicial). It would then be at the discretion of that Member to print out the document, with considerations for their individual budget.

4 The GPO provides printing for the People, at a cost to the People. The costs should cover the full cost (operations, salary and distribution) of creating the print documents. However; digital copies should be provided to the public at no cost. If an individual person deems it necessary to print the digital copy, they can at their own expense. The current system has the People double taxed by providing tax dollars to run the operations as well as having to additionally pay for the products provided. There is also another $25,700,000 allocated as a revolving fund. If the GPO is collecting revenue on publications it provides, this should be allocated within its budget. The additional revolving fund seems as though it is a duplicated service. A further explanation of its necessity should be provided. The Library of Congress, The Government Printing Office, the Superintendent of Documents, and the National Archives and Records all seem to provide similar if not duplicated services. If there is any duplication in services that can be eliminated, this should be investigated. Salaries and Expenses for the Government Accountability Office $601,117,000 The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an independent, nonpartisan agency that works for Congress. Often called the "congressional watchdog," GAO investigates how the federal government spends taxpayer dollars. The legislative branch is elected by the People, to be accountable for legislation in terms of laws and allocation of funds from the treasury of the United States. The House of Representatives has an Office of Congressional Ethics ($2,272,000 budget) in addition to the GAO. The People pay: Senators and Staff: $216,249,500 House of Representatives and Staff: $806,124,500 Total: $1,022,374,000 to assure that the People and the states are properly represented in the federal government and that there is accountability in resources used. In addition to the elected positions, the People also pay an additional $601,117,000 to watch over the elected officials to make sure they are allocated resources properly and appropriately. That means the People are paying $1.00 to watch every $1.70 spent on elected officials. If the government of the People, By the People, and For the People needs that type of oversight there is something fundamentally wrong with the entire system and those within the government who are not working with the sole purpose of the benefit of the People, should no longer be elected officials. Salaries and Expenses of the United States Tax Court $52,200,862 The United States Tax Court could significantly be diminished if the current system of taxation was removed and the flat tax was implemented as less People would avoid paying taxation each year as the federal taxation would be fair and equally distributed amongst the People.

5 Salaries and Expenses of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission $13,100,000 Salaries and Expenses of the National Health Care Workforce Commission $3,000,000 Salaries and Expenses of the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission $11,000,000 The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) is an independent Congressional agency established by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (P.L ) to advise the U.S. Congress on issues affecting the Medicare program. The Commission's statutory mandate is quite broad: In addition to advising the Congress on payments to private health plans participating in Medicare and providers in Medicare's traditional fee-for-service program, MedPAC is also tasked with analyzing access to care, quality of care, and other issues affecting Medicare. This is a part-time job which encompasses a 17 member board. There are numerous faults with the current healthcare system and needs to monitor the system are a necessary practice; however, as part-time employees, on a part-time commission, the allocation of funds seems robust. Along with the National Health Care Workforce Commission, and the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission it might seem as though the government is utilizing the public outcry for ineffective healthcare to provide patronage jobs for friends. Salaries and Expenses of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom $4,400,000 Although it is an American value to expand the free thinking of ideas and beliefs as an individual, and as a group of colonies settled by those seeking religious freedoms, we understand the desire for those around the work to seek this freedom. USCIRF's principal responsibilities are to review the facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom internationally and to make policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress. The question then becomes what can the United States government do, as each individual country is sovereign and may act at the discretion of their government and people. The United States does have significant standing in the world, and we do hold the value of free thinking to heart, but in cases of religious freedom, our own policy of separation of church and state, and with the limited scope of what can and cannot be done, should there be an additional allocation of funds provided? If yes, how are these funds allocated, disbursed? Salaries and Expenses of the United States-China Economic and Security Review $3,500,000 Commission Salaries and Expenses of the United States Commission on International Religious $4,400,000 Freedom Salaries and Expenses of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe $2,715,000 Salaries and Expenses of the Congressional-Executive Commission on the People's $2,000,000 Republic of China Salaries and Expenses of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission $6,000,000 Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund $14,000,000

6 John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development $430,000 Although these programs have validity, a further detail of their disbursements of funds should be provided. Salaries and Expenses for the Architect of the Capitol $118,708,000 Maintenance and care of the Capitol $79,585,000 Expenses for care and improvements of the grounds surrounding the Capitol, the $12,066,000 Senate and House office buildings and the Capitol Power Plant Expenses for maintenance, care and operation of the Senate office buildings $104,073,000 Expenses for maintenance, care and operation of the House office buildings $90,810,000 House historic buildings revitalization trust fund $50,000,000 Capitol Power Plant $120,585,000 Expenses for mechanical and structural maintenance, care and operation of the $101,203,000 Library building and grounds Expenses for the maintenance, care and operation of buildings, grounds and $39,515,000 security enhancements of the U.S. Capitol Police Necessary expenses for the operation of the Capitol Visitor Center $23,915,000 Necessary expenses for the maintenance, care and operation of the Botanic $14,348,000 Garden, nurseries, buildings, grounds, and collections Preserving the Capitol, one of the symbols of our democracy is vital for the future generations. A more detailed expense account, fund allocation and distribution could be provided to see how the Peoples money is being spent. Total Savings: $64,238,000 As an initial investigation into the legislative branch of government comes to a close, a basic analysis provides for the potential to save the following: Savings in the Senate: $523,052,100 Savings in the House: $1,838,157,500 Savings for Joint Items: $64,238,000 Total Savings for the Legislative Branch: $2,425,447,600 (two Billion, four hundred and twenty five Million, four hundred and forty seven Thousand, six Hundred dollars). - A Silence DoGood