Blueprint for Fiscal ReformA plan to balance the budget, cut spending and secure America’s futureDemocratic Blue Dog CoalitionDBDC_758d7e06-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2aThe Democratic Blue Dog Coalition is a group of conservative Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives committed to financial and national security, favoring compromise and bipartisanship over ideology and party discipline.Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD-AL)Blue Dog Co-Chair for AdministrationRep. Baron Hill (IN-09)Blue Dog Co-Chair for PolicyRep. Jim Matheson (UT-02)Blue Dog Co-Chair for CommunicationsRep. Heath Shuler (NC-11)Blue Dog WhipKristen HawnCommunications Director
_758ed058-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2aTo balance the budget, cut spending and secure America’s future_758ed170-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2aPAYGORestore Pay-As-You-Go budget rules._758ed2ba-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2a1The first step we can take to ensure that government does
not spend beyond its means is to restore the proven, bipartisan pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) rules that
effectively brought about budget surpluses in the 1990’s._758ed378-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2aFederal SpendingPut the lid on federal spending. _758ed404-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2a2In addition to balancing the federal checkbook, Congress should
set limits on discretionary spending. Just like American families who make tough decisions every
day, Congress must learn to live within its means._758ed486-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2aProgram CutsCut programs that don’t work._758ed512-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2a3Congress must work with the Administration to identify and cut
programs that don’t work. A commonsense budget enforcement tool, “expedited rescission” was
passed by the House with bipartisan support in the 1990’s._758ed59e-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2aDeficit ReductionReduce the deficit. _758ed620-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2a4This tool forces Congress to live within its means by keeping our federal budget
on setting a path towards balance. Congress would be required to cut spending to meet these
targets, effectively reducing the deficit over time._758ed6ac-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2aBalanced BudgetBalance the budget. _758ed742-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2a5A critical component of the plan, a constitutional amendment would require
that Congress balance the budget by 2020._758ed7ce-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2aFiscal HonestyBe honest about our long term fiscal obligations._758ed864-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2a6Congress should be required to produce an
honest and open assessment of the government’s long-term financial obligations as part of the
budget resolution every year._758ed8fa-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2aFiscal CommissionEstablish a bipartisan fiscal commission._758ed990-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2a7A fiscal reform commission should be established to force
Congress’ hand in making the tough decisions necessary to put the country back on a fiscally
sustainable path._758eda30-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2aTransparency and AccountabilityImprove transparency and accountability._758edac6-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2a8Congress has a responsibility to hold government
agencies accountable for wasteful spending. This measure would reduce the estimated $98 billion
that is wasted annually when a federal agency pays too much or pays twice for a product or service._758edb70-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2aPerformance-Based BudgetingEstablish performance-based budgeting. _758edc10-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2a9Performance-based budgeting is a results oriented
budget tool that sets goals and performance targets for agencies, and measures their results, much
like a small business. It is a commonsense policy that has been successfully implemented on the
state level for many years._758edcb0-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2aWaste, Fraud and AbuseEliminate waste, fraud and abuse. _758edd50-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2a10Research shows that for every $1.00 we put into “program
integrity accounts” that identify and eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in government spending, we
get $1.50 back. The authorization levels for these programs should be increased._758eddfa-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2aAccountingAccount for every dollar. _758edf1c-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2a11Evaluating every dollar spent on our national defense is not only good
fiscal practice; it is a matter of national security. Like all other major federal agencies, the
Department of Defense should be subject to annual audits._758edfd0-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2aTax LoopholesClose tax loopholes. _758ee084-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2a12It is critical that the federal government continue to identify and report
loopholes and inefficiencies within the current tax system. We can expand on these reports to
reflect the total revenue lost and to identify inefficient tax subsidies._758ee12e-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2aNonpartisanshipTake the politics out of the equation. _758ee1ec-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2a13In order to promote efficiency and eliminate undue political pressures, this provision would transition the Joint Committee on Taxation to an independent, nonpartisan legislative branch agency._758ee2aa-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2aDuplication and InefficiencyEliminate duplication and inefficiency. _758ee368-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2a14Government programs that are duplicative or inefficient can
be a substantial drain on the federal budget. Establishing an independent, bipartisan commission to
recommend reorganizational changes to the federal government would help to streamline these
programs and save taxpayer dollars._758ee430-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2aProgram Review and TerminationReview and terminate unnecessary federal programs. _758ee4f8-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2a15A “Sunset Commission” should be
established to conduct regular reviews of federal programs and agencies, and make
recommendations as to those which should be terminated._758ee5b6-94e9-11df-8541-aa3c7a64ea2a2010-07-21OwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net