Rob Bishop: “the Budget Deficit Act of 2005 has the noble goal of being a first step in a long time toward bringing fiscal sanity to…”

“the Budget Deficit Act of 2005 has the noble goal of being a first step in a long time toward bringing fiscal sanity to the federal budget. Forty billion dollars is a small but correct step in regaining control of our budget, and we can not retreat and drop this burden on the backs of our citizens. For that reason it is important to pass this legislation, but like all bills with multiple titles there are some negative aspects hidden within the 700 plus pages of monetary policy. I am very disturbed at the introduction of a certain new entitlement program with new mandatory spending in this reconciliation bill. The Academic Competitiveness Grant Program, inserted in Conference under Title VII, section 401 of S. 1932, authorizes $3.5 billion in new spending. It is wrong! This new entitlement offers scholarships to worthy kids who have completed a ``rigorous secondary school program of study''--that part is justifiable--``established by a state or local government education agency''--that part is obvious--``and recognized as such by the Secretary.''--that part is illegal and indefensible. Current law specifically prohibits this control of state curriculum by the federal government.…”