A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned!

Weekly Opinion Editorial

A PENNY SAVED IS A PENNY EARNED!

by Steve Fair

 
     Each year the U.S. House allocates between 1.4 and 2 million dollars of tax dollars to each of the 435 members of the House to run their Washington and in state district operations.  According to the U.S. House Clerk’s office, Oklahoma’s five members of the House did not spend over $750,000 of the taxpayer money they could have on their office rent, supplies, equipment and staff salaries in 2011.    The 755K  is on top of the five(5) percent cut every member took in their 2011 operating budgets when Republicans took control of the House.  
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     In a story on Newsok.com Sunday, it was reported that fifth district Congressman James Lankford of Edmond had returned the largest amount of the five- a third of the total- $252,000.  That was 18% of the total Lankford was allocated.  District one Congressman John Sullivan from the Tulsa area was next returning $229,000 to the treasury.  District three Congressman Frank Lucas, who represents western Oklahoma,  gave back $160,000 and fourth district Congressman Tom Cole of Moore $103,000.  Second district Congressman Dan Boren of Muskogee, the lone Democrat in the delegation gave back only $10,964.  You can view more detailed information on what each of the 435 members of the US House spends at disbursements.house.gov.
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    If all 435 members of the U.S. House did what Congressman Lankford did and returned 18% of their operating budget, it would save U.S. taxpayers $110 million annually.  While that may seem like an insignificant amount of money when you consider the size of the current national debt of nearly 16 trillion dollars, it is a start.  If a Congressional office can trim that much out of their budget, why can’t a large federal agency do the same?  They can, but they won’t do it willingly.  It will literally take ‘an act of Congress” to get it done. 
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     Back in January when the Washington Post wrote a story about eight Republican members- none from Oklahoma- who returned over 1.45 million to the treasury, liberal blogger Stan Collender called the move ‘grandstanding’ and clamed the Republicans didn’t ‘understand’ federal finances.  “The Treasury doesn’t give each member a wad of cash to spend,”  Collender said.  “It only pays expenses after they are incurred.”  While Collender is technically right about the process, he is clueless about budgeting.  There is a very real sense that money not spent is money saved. 
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     Being a member of Congress is not a popular job in today’s tough economical and political climate.  In a Gallup Poll conducted in November of 2011, Congress had an approval rating of around ten(10) percent- the lowest ever.  In the same poll, eleven(11) percent of Americans found polygamy to be morally acceptable, and thirty percent approved of pornography.  Actually, the results of that poll provides us some valuable insight into the root problem in America.  It’s clear our country’s moral compass is broken and secular values rule the day.  When immorality is winked at and situational ethics are practiced, it’s no wonder we have raging deficits- both financially and morally.
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     The Republican members of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation should be praised for not spending all the tax money they had budgeted to run their operations.  Holding down operational spending takes discipline and courage in today’s economic climate.  It shows commitment and proves Oklahoma has members of Congress who do care about America and its future.  If only that commitment and courage to do what is right would spread across our country. 
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     Taxpayers should recognize and appreciate these lawmakers efforts.  After all, it’s our money they are spending/saving.  Ronald Reagan said, “Government is the people’s business and every man, woman and child becomes a shareholder with the first penny of tax paid.”