Byron Dorgan: “I rise today to speak against the Coburn amendment that would impose a 3-year moratorium on Congress' constitutional…”

“I rise today to speak against the Coburn amendment that would impose a 3-year moratorium on Congress' constitutional responsibility to direct the spending of the Federal Government. The amendment in question propounds a problem that doesn't exist, a solution that resolves nothing, and an argument that is factually baseless. This amendment will not lead to deficit reduction. In fiscal year 2010, congressionally directed initiatives make up less than one-half of 1 percent of total Federal spending. With total spending at $3.5 trillion it is irresponsible to tell the American people that congressionally directed spending of one-half of 1 percent of this total amount is the cause of our country's deficit problem. Mathematically it is incorrect and mechanically it is incorrect. Doing away with congressionally directed initiatives does not guarantee deficit reduction--it guarantees members of the administration will make all the funding decisions. Inherent in the arguments of the amendment's supporters is the contention that projects and activities selected by the administration are superior. The argument seems to rely on the notion that there is some objective formula used by the administration to select the best and most worthy projects to fund. This is false.”