Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) has teamed up with Senator Jim Risch (R-ID) and other Republican Senators in order to introduce the Zero Based Budget Act, which looks to “reduce the more than $31 trillion of debt held by the general public and curb unjustified spending at the federal level.” The bill looks to cut spending of federal agencies that have spent perhaps more than they need to.
“Decades of Washington’s backward budgeting and reckless deficit spending has put our nation in a $31 trillion federal debt crisis and Democrats want you to believe there is no way out. To finally get our fiscal house in order, it’s time to start living within our means – like every family and business has to,” Sen. Scott stated.
He would go on to mention that he believes the newly introduced bill will be a positive ROI for the American people.
“Our bill, the Zero Based Budget Act, holds the federal government accountable to help pay down our debt by reviewing the budget and prioritizing spending that truly provides a positive return on investment for American taxpayers,” said Scott.
Sen. Risch would also mention the tenets of the bill, including the notion that agencies would have to report and establish their reasoning for the amount of spending they’ve disbursed.
“Democrats’ radical fiscal policies are doing nothing but burdening future generations, and the continuous spending is putting America into an increasingly dangerous financial situation,” said Risch. “Through the Zero Based Budget Act, Congress can push federal agencies back into line by creating transparency and a means to save taxpayer dollars. My legislation will require agencies to justify their spending levels every six years and propose expenditure reductions by two percent. With good governance and additional fiscally responsible legislation, there is hope we can put America back on track.”
Alongside Scott and Risch, U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID), Mike Braun (R-IN),Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Ted Budd (R-NC) co-sponsored the bill as well.
