William Brewster: “Yesterday seven other Members of Congress and I introduced H.R. 4057, a bipartisan version of the deficit reduction lock…”

“Yesterday seven other Members of Congress and I introduced H.R. 4057, a bipartisan version of the deficit reduction lock box bill. Last year, two groups of Members from both sides of the isle introduced legislation that would lock away all spending cuts for deficit reduction. Yesterday, these two groups came together in a bipartisan effort to not only shrink the deficit, but force Congress to spend more wisely and cut more honestly. There is a growing frustration among all Members--both Democrat and Republican--that cuts we make in the appropriations bills are not real cuts. The money we think we cut from programs is later spent when an appropriations bill goes to conference. Mr. Speaker, this is a ridiculous practice, and must be stopped. Our new and improved, bipartisan lock box bill will guarantee that the deficit will be reduced when Congress approves spending cuts. The lock box is an air tight budget measure that ends the game of phantom spending cuts. Mr. Speaker, I request the support of the Members of this House for the deficit reduction lock box.”