Thursday, June 24, 2010

Stop the Federal Spending Spree | Tad DeHaven | Cato Institute: Commentary

Stop the Federal Spending Spree | Tad DeHaven | Cato Institute: Commentary: "Republican lack of credibility on cutting spending can be seen in the House Republican leadership's new YouCut Web site. Each week the Web site lists five possible spending cuts for citizens to vote on. The 'winning' cut proposal then goes to the House floor for a vote.

Engaging citizens in the government's spending crisis is a good idea. The problem: the cuts the Republican leadership has selected thus far are minuscule.

For instance, one item recently proposed for cutting was $1 million in mohair subsidies. In the world of federal agriculture subsidies, this cut represents chump change.

Republicans can't be considered serious about restraining the budget unless they put subsidies for wheat, corn, soybeans, rice and cotton on the chopping block."