Wayne Allard: “this is an amendment that puts in reconciliation language a 1-percent reduction in spending in the mandatory programs…”

“this is an amendment that puts in reconciliation language a 1-percent reduction in spending in the mandatory programs that have been identified as having fraud, waste, and abuse. It excludes Armed Services, Veterans, and Social Security. The amendment comes about because of the 2004 budget resolution, where Congress directed the Comptroller General to submit a comprehensive report identifying instances in which the committees of jurisdiction may make legislative changes to improve the economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of Federal programs in their jurisdiction. In compliance with our request, the GAO submitted a 300-plus-page report full of specific examples of legislative changes with potential to yield budgetary savings. This will reduce the debt by $13 billion the first budget year and $71 billion over 5 years.”