Take a SLICE Out of Excessive Spending

Download a .pdf of the letter here

October 17, 2005
The Honorable Mark Udall
240 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Representative Udall,

On behalf of the millions of members and supporters of our respective
organizations, we are writing in support of H.R. 3966, the Stimulating Leadership
in Cutting Expenditures Act (SLICE.)

As we all know, Americans have been called upon to help victims of
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and they have done so willingly. Congress has
passed two relief packages worth $62.3 billion and more federal aid is expected
for the Gulf States. While Americans want to help their fellow citizens, many are
concerned and angry about wasteful government spending for “bridges to
nowhere” in Alaska and planes with salmon painted on them. They want action
from Congress to stop the out-of-control spending and they want it now. It is
important that Democrats and Republicans work together to control spending, and
we are encouraged by the bipartisan support for your legislation.

Our groups have offered many suggestions on how to rein in government
spending and reduce waste. We have been heartened by the many proposals that
have been offered by members of Congress to provide offsets to disaster
spending. In light of that, we are also supportive of your bipartisan proposal to
give the president an opportunity to offer rescissions to the recently-passed
transportation and fiscal 2006 appropriations bills and allowing members to vote
on each rescission. It would allow members of Congress to defend specific
earmarks and their worthiness, or lack thereof.

If members of Congress support bills such as H.R. 3966 and other
legislation that has been offered to provide offsets, wasteful programs will be
eliminated, spending will be brought under control, the deficit will be reduced,
and citizens affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita will receive the help and
assistance they need. Please know that you have our support for H.R. 3966, and
we encourage your colleagues to co-sponsor this bill.

Sincerely

Bill Lauderback, Executive Vice
President
American Conservative Union
Grover Norquist, President
Americans for Tax Reform
Thomas Schatz, President
Council for Citizens Against
Government Waste
Matt Kibbe, President and CEO,
FreedomWorks
John Berthoud, President
National Taxpayers Union
Karen Kerrigan, President and CEO
Small Business & Entrepreneurship
Council