HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI

House Democrats Have Voted for A Series of Measures That Cut the Deficit and Cut Wasteful Government Spending

Since January 2009, House Democrats have voted time and time again for measures that reduce the deficit, crack down on wasteful government spending, and impose tough fiscal discipline. For example:

* The Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act (enacted into law), which reinstituted a requirement to offset new policies that increase mandatory spending or reduce revenues, giving it the force of law. Pay-as-you-go principles created the record budget surpluses the nation enjoyed under President Clinton. President George W. Bush and a GOP-controlled Congress let it expire in 2002.

* A new House rule (sponsored by Rep. John Tanner (D-TN)) to require periodic hearings on waste, fraud and abuse by House committees to ensure that tax dollars are spent wisely.

* The Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act (enacted into law), which saves taxpayers money by cracking down on Pentagon waste and cost overruns, which GAO says amount to $296 billion just for the 96 largest weapons systems.

* The Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act (enacted into law; a bill by Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA)) which cracks down on improper federal payments and will help achieve the President's goal of reducing wasteful, improper payments by $50 billion between now and 2012.

* The Affordable Care Act health insurance reform (enacted into law) which, according to CBO, will cut the deficit by $124 billion over the next 10 years and by $1.2 trillion over the following 10 years.

* The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (enacted into law) which, according to CBO, will cut the deficit by $19 billion over the next 10 years.

* The American Clean Energy and Security Act which, according to CBO, will cut the deficit by $9 billion over the next 10 years.

* The Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (enacted into law) which, according to CBO, will cut the deficit by $3.2 billion over the next 10 years.

* The Small Business and Infrastructure Jobs Tax Act which, according to CBO, will cut the deficit by $2.7 billion over the next 10 years.

* The Small Business Jobs and Credit Act which, according to CBO, will cut the deficit by $1.7 billion over the next 10 years.

* The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act which, according to CBO, will cut the deficit by $1 billion over the next 10 years.

* The Government Efficiency, Effectiveness and Performance Improvement Act (a bill by Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX)), which cuts hundreds of millions of dollars in government waste by shining light on ineffective federal programs.

* The IMPROVE Acquisition Act (a bill by Rep. Robert Andrews (D-NJ), which cleans up DOD acquisition spending for the 80 percent that is for services and other non-weapons items, saving taxpayers an estimated $27 billion a year.

* The Surface Transportation Savings Act (a bill by Reps. Tom Perriello (D-VA) and Mark Schauer (D-MI)), which rescinds $107 million in unspent contract authority for certain transportation programs - thereby ensuring that these funds will not be used to increase spending in the future.

* The Surface Transportation Earmark Rescission, Savings and Accountability Act (a bill by Rep. Betsy Markey (D-CO)) which rescinds $713 million in unobligated funding for 309 earmarks contained in previous surface transportation authorizations - thereby ensuring that these funds will not be used to increase spending in the future.

* The Budget Enforcement Resolution, which sets a limit on discretionary spending for FY 2011 that requires spending cuts of $7 billion below the President's budget and $3 billion below the Senate resolution.

* The Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act (enacted into law), which protects U.S. taxpayers by giving the Justice Department enhanced authorities to fight fraud in the use of TARP and Recovery Act funds, including increased penalties.

* Special Inspector General for TARP Act (enacted into law), which strengthened the oversight of the TARP program by expanding the authorities of the Special Inspector General to crack down on waste, fraud and abuse in the use of U.S. taxpayer dollars. Additionally, Democrats demanded taxpayer repayment in the original TARP bill signed by President Bush; those monies are being repaid.

* A package of $10 billion in rescissions of FY 2010 spending in order to fully pay for an Education Jobs Fund, which will better ensure that America's children have access to a quality education this fall by preventing the layoffs of 140,000 teachers.

* A package of $1.1 billion for program integrity activities for FY 2010, (enacted into law) to crack down on waste, fraud and abuse in such programs as Medicare and Medicaid - with research showing that for every $1.00 invested in identifying and eliminating waste, fraud and abuse in government spending, we get $1.50 back.