Cliff Stearns: “last night, NBC News did an expose on AmeriCorps that proved what a lot of us have suspected for some time-- the program…”

“last night, NBC News did an expose on AmeriCorps that proved what a lot of us have suspected for some time-- the program is way over budget and wasting taxpayers' money at a phenomenal rate. AmeriCorps may have worthy goals, but is has lousy execution. According to a report by the General Accounting Office, the Clinton administration projected AmeriCorps to cost $6.43 per hour for each so-called volunteer. The actual cost: $15.65 per hour. Annually, the program was supposed to cost no more than $18,000 per participant. The final tab: $27,000 per participant. Mr. Speaker, these are large sums of money. Most of the citizens in my district, who work full-time jobs to support their whole families, don't earn this kind of money. Why does it cost $27,000 to support just one AmeriCorps participant? On Monday night, the VA-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee cut all funding for President Clinton's so-called national service program. Well, Mr. Speaker, the answer is that it won't anymore. I applaud my colleagues on the VA-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee for stopping this new entitlement program.”