Democrats Reject Bachmann's Amendment to Protect Taxpayers
Washington, D.C.,
Jan 27, 2009 -
Yesterday, U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann (MN-6) offered a critical taxpayer-protection amendment to the Democrats’ so-called "stimulus" package, the $825-billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This amendment was rejected by the Democrat-controlled Rules Committee.
"Once again, Washington is bailing out their special interest friends on the backs of hard-working American taxpayers," stated Bachmann. "Our economy needs a stimulus proposal that actually creates jobs and reinvigorates the economy. This misguided legislation is not it."
"Congress intends to distribute the funds of this bill largely through state and local governments," continued Bachmann. "If they’re going to act as middlemen and benefit from the federal funds, they should be required to account to the taxpayers who are footing the bill. For years, too many of them have built larger and larger budgets off more and more federal funding – and now they find themselves in a budget crunch as a result. My amendment will break the addiction to Washington dollars and protect hard-working taxpayers."
The official summary of the Bachmann amendment is below:
Requires that within two years upon any state or local government receiving funds, such state must implement legislation which (1) limits the annual increase in state spending to inflation plus the percentage increase in population and (2) requires voter approval for any new tax rate increase, extension of a tax due to expire, or tax policy changes causing a net revenue gain, and such local government must implement legislation which (1) limits the annual increase in spending to inflation plus the percentage change in net taxable real property and (2) requires voter approval for any new tax rate increase, extension of a tax due to expire, or tax policy changes causing a net revenue gain.
Should a state or local government fail to pass such legislation, funds it has received under this Act shall be returned to the US Treasury.
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