Joel Hefley: “the funding included in H.R. 2442 for the Economic Development Administration is $10 million above the President's…”

“the funding included in H.R. 2442 for the Economic Development Administration is $10 million above the President's request for fiscal year 1995. The amendment I have at the desk would cut the additional $10 million from the EDA and restore the President's funding level. It is no secret that I am not a fan of the EDA. I think the program is ripe for abuse. I am also not a fan of our convoluted appropriation process. We budget, we authorize and we appropriate. Then we conference and reconcile. At each step, the spending seems to grow. The authorization for the EDA is a good example. The President sent his budget request to Congress, and he asked for a significant increase for the EDA. Then the Banking and Public Works Committees got together to craft a bill, and they added a little more. The summer, the appropriations will get their shot. Finally, we will probably pass an emergency appropriation bill this fall that will include still more spending. In the end, its little wonder we have had continuous deficits for the past 25 years. Mr. Chairman, this amendment is an attempt to stem that tide by rolling back the spending level for the EDA to the level budgeted by the President. As it is, the President's budget projects a $165 billion deficit. There is no reason to increase that deficit, even if its just $10 million. The amendment I have at the desk will cut a total of $10 million from the EDA's funding for next year.”