Conservatives Demand Administration and Congress Check Out-of-Control Federal Spending

American Conservative Union ^ | September,19,2005 | David Keene

[Reagan Man]

Alexandria, VA - The American Conservative Union, the nation's oldest and largest conservative grassroots organization, today called on President Bush and the Republican leadership in Congress to take immediate action to rein in federal spending.

“Clearly the terrible tragedy resulting from the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina will require substantial federal resources to be expended, and all Americans support this relief effort,” said ACU Chairman David Keene. “But the idea that Congress should spend tens of billions of dollars on this relief effort in the absence of reprioritizing overall federal spending makes absolutely no sense.”

“ Let us not lose sight of the fact that prior to Hurricane Katrina, federal government spending was already spiraling out of control,” Keene said. “Excluding military and homeland security, American taxpayers have witnessed the largest spending increase under any preceding president and Congress since the Great Depression.”

Annual non-military and non-homeland security spending increased $303 Billion between Fiscal Year 2001 and Fiscal Year 2005. The acknowledged Federal Debt has increased over $2 Trillion since Fiscal Year 2000 and now stands at $7.9 Trillion.

“This ever mounting federal debt has been inexcusably passed on to future generations without regard as to how the debt will be repaid,” Keene said.

The Medicare prescription drug bill passed in 2003 is estimated by its Trustees to increase the government’s unfunded obligations by $16 Trillion. Moreover, the long-term unfunded debt of Medicare and Social Security totals over $50 Trillion.

“Because of these massive increases in federal largess, conservatives throughout the United States are increasingly losing faith in the President and the Republican Leadership in Congress to adequately prioritize and rein in overall federal spending,” Keene concluded.

The ACU Board of Directors unanimously passed a resolution during its August 2005 meeting calling on President Bush and the Republican majority in Congress to take immediate and decisive action to reduce in real terms the level of non-defense federal spending and federal debt. A copy of the resolution is attached.

The American Conservative Union is the nation's oldest conservative lobbying organization. ACU's purpose is to effectively communicate and advance the goals and principles of conservatism through one multi-issue, umbrella organization. The Statement of Principles makes clear ACU's support of capitalism, belief in the doctrine of original intent of the framers of the Constitution, confidence in traditional moral values, and commitment to a strong national defense.

[Reagan Man]

Rolling out compassionate conservatism, expanding government and handing out a blank check maybe good politics, but its bad policy. Take a well crafted speech and add to it maybe upwards of $200-billion and you get a momentary feel good period. Thankfully, on spending issues there are some fiscal conservatives left in WashDC. Mike Pence, Tom Tancredo, Ron Paul and Lindsey Graham have all spoken out against throwing money around in an effort to rebuild the gulf coast at any cost. They've made some reasonable suggestions how the feds can pay for Katrina relief without busting the bank.

[Reagan Man]

RESOLUTION OF THE AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION

Concerning

Excessive Federal Government Spending

---

The Board of Directors of the American Conservative Union unanimously approved the following Resolution during its regular meeting on August 8, 2005.
Whereas the American Conservative Union is the nation's oldest conservative lobbying organization; and,

Whereas the American Conservative Union’s founding Statement of Principles, adopted in December 1964, recognizes the purpose of the Constitution of The United States is to protect the inherent rights and responsibilities of the individual by strictly limiting the power and size of government; and,

Whereas national government spending has spiraled out of control in recent years, with annual non-military and non-homeland security spending increasing $303 Billion between Fiscal Year 2001 and Fiscal Year 2005, the greatest spending increase under any preceding president and Congress since the Great Depression;

Whereas the acknowledged Federal Debt has increased over $2 Trillion since Fiscal Year 2000 and now stands at $7.9 Trillion; and,

Whereas the long-term unfunded debt of Medicare and Social Security totals over $50 Trillion; and,

Whereas Congress and the president supported and passed a Medicare prescription drug bill that is estimated by its Trustees to increase government unfunded obligations by $16 Trillion (more that 150 percent greater than the unfunded liability of Social Security); and,

Whereas this ever mounting federal debt is being inexcusably passed on to future generations without regard as to how the debt will be repaid; and,

Whereas the Bush Administration and the Republican controlled House of Representatives and United States Senate have demonstrated a complete lack of fiscal discipline during the past five years; and,

Whereas conservatives throughout the Unites States are increasingly losing faith in the President and the Republican Leadership in Congress to adequately prioritize and rein in overall federal spending; now

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Directors of the American Conservative Union, acting on behalf of over one million ACU members and supporters, do hereby call on President George W. Bush and the Republican Leadership in Congress to take immediate and decisive action to reduce in real terms the level of non-defense federal spending and federal debt.

---

As recorded in the minutes of the Board of Directors of the American Conservative Union assembled in regular meeting on August 8, 2005.


_________________________________

David A. Keene
Chairman of the Board

[Rodney King]

Lindsey Graham? I can't bear that guy.

[TAdams8591]

Marking. I will be back to read this later. Looks like a good post! : )

[Reagan Man]

I don't care much for Lindsey Graham either, but he was right on target with his comments on Fox News Sunday. Sean Hannity and Newt Gingrich are discussing the need for the GOP Congress and PresBush to handle the Katrina relief under strict fiscal guidelines.

[ElCapusto]

bttt

[k2blader]

We need another Republican revolution.

[samm1148]

Rush was talking about this today and his point was if you lose faith in Republicans then what is next? The trouble is there is nothing; he is right about that.

But this constant barrage of it is either spending democrats or spending republicans is a falsehood. There are other choices out there. If the Republicans continue to increase spending and show no leadership on social issues (like reining in the Federal Courts) then there truly is no difference between them and the democrats and us third party whackos will have been vindicated in our charge of the one-party system.

It is time to put the republicans on notice that they won't be returning to their cushy overpaid house or senate seats after the next election unless there are real cuts in spending.

If you are saying oh great then we'll get a democrat then show me the difference. I'm damn near 45 years old and in that time I've watched individual rights granted under the Constitution erode and government grow unchecked. So don't give me that it'll just happen faster under the democrats. It is happening fast enough under a republican controlled government.

[RFT1]

I have lost hope in the GOP. The GOP have become in effect, pre 1968 mainstream Democrats, while being pro national security and defense, also being wreckless in terms of spending, and only giving lip service on social issues.

[Reagan Man]

>>>>We need another Republican revolution.

Good. Better yet, we need a conservative revolution.

[Gipper08]

"We need another Republican revolution."

It is up to us to make it happen! Pence,Akin,Flake,etc need our help and support!

[Reagan Man]

Well said. Ditto's.

[RFT1]

What really strikes me is if Ronald Reagan was around today, would he even win the GOP primary? The financial sources for the GOP have a stranglehold on who gets funding now, and as long as business intrests get what they want, some good like tax cuts, some bad like corporate welfare, badly written trade treaties and no legal enforcement of i mmigration laws, they dont care who is in charge, just as long as they maintain their power.

Someone like Reagan, especially how he was in the 70s would be too controversial for the GOPs financial backers of today.

[k2blader]

You're right. I was just thinking of the irony..

[stopem]

Sad when it takes an organization to tell conservative Republicans where they are going wrong!

BUT why just target the Medicare bill why not all the other bills like the Highway Bill and the Farm Bill, that would ensure a good start.

In addition, don't increase welfare to the evacuees, the ones who were on welfare to begin with certainly don't need higher payments.

I worked as an administrator for an insurance company many years ago their motto, so to speak was we will get you back to the position you were in not better than you were.

" can help to put you back in the place you were before an accident occurred. ..."

I realize the govt isn't an insurance company, they are better. ;)

[Reagan Man]

Cong Mike Pence wants to hold off on the PDP for a year and take that $40-billion, apply it to Katrina relief. Sen Graham has suggested taking the pork out of the recent hiway bill and energy bill and apply it to Katrina relief.

[stopem]

Thats good. Wonder how many will vote to do the right thing.

[calex59]

It is happening fast enough under a republican controlled government.

I guess you dont' remember the eight years under Clinton then. We lost a lot more than money under that administration and if you want to go back to that, then remember this. If we get one more Dem administration anytime soon, we will lose the constitution forever. We at least have a chance now to get it back, with Dems there is no chance. Vote for third party if you like but you might as well vote for dems because they will win the elections not the third parties.

[BlackbirdSST]

I guess you dont' remember the eight years under Clinton then. We lost a lot more than money under that administration and if you want to go back to that, then remember this. If we get one more Dem administration anytime soon, we will lose the constitution forever. We at least have a chance now to get it back, with Dems there is no chance. Vote for third party if you like but you might as well vote for dems because they will win the elections not the third parties.

Rove, is that you? Same ole song and dance, been hearing it too long, and it carries less and less weight everytime the tune gets played. Get a new gag line! Blackbird.

[calex59]

It may be an old song and dance but it is true. Not enough people will vote for third party candidates, and if you think they will then one of two things is true of you, you are an idiot, or you are a troll, a dem in disguise. Take your pick, I don't care which you are, you are wrong.