These questions are culled from phone calls, letters, faxes and e-mails sent to Rep. Gallegly's Camarillo, Solvang, and Washington offices. Each week Rep. Gallegly adds another question and answer. Please add your comments.
July 22, 2011
Question: Is Congress cutting its own budget?
Answer: Yes. If Congress is to get the country back on a more sustainable course and reduce our federal deficit, Congress must cut spending wherever it can.
H.R. 2551, the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2012, would result in Congress trimming its budget by $227 million or 6.4 percent below fiscal year 2011 levels, and $471.7 million or 12.4 percent below the president's requested level. Since January 2011, spending by the Legislative Branch has been cut by 9 percent from 2010 spending levels. This marks the largest-ever, two-year reduction for the Legislative Branch, $329 million in total. With my support, the House of Representatives approved H.R. 2551 on July 22 by a vote of 252-159.
For more information on my economic positions, please see my Key Topics: Economy page.
For previous Questions of the Week chronologically and by topic, please see my Questions of the Week page.
Please vote for the President's compromise offer of a balanced approach regarding the debt ceiling. We need both spending cuts and increased revenues to make our county avoid default. Our people need your support!!!!
Thank you.
I am an RN in your district; also with an adult son with autism. I run a supported living program for him and two other adults with disabilities that is great care for them and has saved the government alot of money because I own the home they live in. This recession has already cost them as their SSi has been cut alot. It is immoral to back the current republican plan with no increased revenue from the top 1%. I dont want to hear again that these are the job creators. Why should they invest in further business when their tax rate is so low. Please follow what your constituency wants and not use the debt ceiling to hurt us anymore.
I wanted to let you know that I support no tax increase and cutting the budget to balance the budget. We have compromised too many times and the result is the unbelievable debt that we have. Federal and State workers need to be treated like public workers, pay for at least a portion of their health care plans and reduce the high pension plans. Thank you,
My inquiry is about foreign aid and the budget. Just from hearing the numbers the US spends on foreign aid, I have to wonder if any cuts are being made in this area. To me, if our government is cutting aid to its seniors, and at the same time making pledges or budgeting the same or more money to foreign aid, something is wrong.
Thank you.
I support cut, cap and balance.
I applaud your site, your solicitation of input from your constituents & I agree whole heartedly with your stated positions on legal & illegal immigration.
Unfortunately you do not go nearly far enough (imo) on cutting govt expenditures. Congress & the Executive Branch must cut it's staff, excessive benefits & expense levels by 50% immediately and at a minimum. Unnecessary departments, bureaus, functions must be ELIMINATED! Our economy and nation cannot sustain the current level of waste.
All elected/appointed or hired 'public servants' MUST be subject to & abide by the same identical programs, laws & restrictions as their constituents (employers) also immediately and meaning tax codes, FICA, Medicare & every other program/requirement.
Govt expenditures must be cut dramatically at every level, Federal, State, County & Local. Eliminate the Postal Service completely, UPS & FedEx provide better, faster, more secure, service at less cost. Reevaluate all foreign aid & support for the UN & other groups from a 'O' based budgeting perspective.
Balanced Budget, Congressional Limitations (28th Amendment) and Executive Line Item Veto (so we can also hold the Pres. directly responsible for legislation we do not want) Constitutional Amendments (IF required) are all mandatory.
YES taking these necessary steps to dramatically reduce the size, impact and cost of govt WILL displace large numbers of individuals from the 'civil service gravy train' So be it! They will soon find 'real jobs' to support themselves & their families. Or even better, start new companies to help build our economy.
Our country needs it's officials to understand & admit that there is not now & never has been any such thing as a tax, fee, license, or other charge assessed on business at any level, large or small. All of these are just costs which like labor, materials and so on must be added into the price of all goods & service we need or choose to purchase. These phony charges (& outright distortions of economic fact) make our goods & services less competitive here and internationally. These fees, taxes and charges are also highly regressive and inflationary. Individual citizens (you and I) pay all taxes either directly or indirectly. If there is any such thing as a company earning 'excess profits', the marketplace & competition will resolve it promptly.
We need Govt to provide: national defense, set & administer rational international policies & relations, provide limited police protection, build & maintain transportation systems (IF private enterprise cannot do it better, quicker & at lower cost for better quality) and to provide a very limited 'safety net' for the most unfortunate of our citizens. In my sincere opinion as a student of economics, political science & history - "That government is best which governs least!"
Please don't misunderstand me, mine is NOT a teaparty, republican, democratic or libertarian position, simply the truth as I see it. I will both campaign for and vote for individuals that aggressively and truthfully support and fight for these positions.
Thank you for the opportunity to say these things & your for position on immigration.
Sincerely yours,
I'm in favor of the government cutting spending and closing tax loopholes that allow big business pay less taxes that the average working class person.
Cut out tax loopholes that encourage relocation of US companies overseas and discourage foreign companies from relocating to the US. Quit giving money to foreign countries that do not respect or appreciate the USA. Cutting out pork barrel projects that waste US taxpayers money needs to stop. Within the last several years there has been an explosion of governmental agencies who have added opressive regulations on the self employed that have done nothing to imporve the quality of life in the US. Pleae stop the abuse& fleecing of US citizens. Thank you