Conservatives Demand Administration and Congress
Check Out-of-Control Federal Spending
Alexandria, VA - The American Conservative Union, the nation's oldest
and largest conservative grassroots organization, today called on President
Bush and the Republican leadership in Congress to take immediate action
to rein in federal spending.
“Clearly
the terrible tragedy resulting from the devastation caused by Hurricane
Katrina
will require substantial federal resources to be expended, and all
Americans support this relief effort,” said ACU Chairman David
Keene. “But the idea that Congress should spend tens of billions
of dollars on this relief effort in the absence of reprioritizing overall
federal spending makes absolutely no sense.”
“
Let us not lose sight of the fact that prior to Hurricane Katrina,
federal government spending was already spiraling out of control,” Keene
said. “Excluding military and homeland security, American taxpayers
have witnessed the largest spending increase under any preceding president
and Congress since the Great Depression.”
Annual non-military and non-homeland security spending increased $303
Billion between Fiscal Year 2001 and Fiscal Year 2005. The acknowledged
Federal Debt has increased over $2 Trillion since Fiscal Year 2000
and now stands at $7.9 Trillion.
“This ever mounting federal debt has been inexcusably passed
on to future generations without regard as to how the debt will be
repaid,” Keene said.
The Medicare prescription
drug bill passed in 2003 is estimated by its Trustees to increase
the government’s unfunded obligations
by $16 Trillion. Moreover, the long-term unfunded debt of Medicare
and Social Security totals over $50 Trillion.
“Because of these massive increases in federal largess, conservatives
throughout the United States are increasingly losing faith in the President
and the Republican Leadership in Congress to adequately prioritize
and rein in overall federal spending,” Keene concluded.
The ACU Board of Directors unanimously passed a resolution during
its August 2005 meeting calling on President Bush and the Republican
majority in Congress to take immediate and decisive action to reduce
in real terms the level of non-defense federal spending and federal
debt. A copy of the resolution is attached.
The American Conservative Union is the nation's oldest conservative
lobbying organization. ACU's purpose is to effectively communicate
and advance the goals and principles of conservatism through one
multi-issue, umbrella organization. The Statement of Principles makes
clear ACU's support of capitalism, belief in the doctrine of original
intent of the framers of the Constitution, confidence in traditional
moral values, and commitment to a strong national defense.
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RESOLUTION
OF THE AMERICAN
CONSERVATIVE
UNION
Concerning
Excessive Federal Government Spending
The Board of Directors of the American Conservative Union unanimously
approved the following Resolution during its regular meeting on August
8, 2005.
Whereas the American Conservative Union is the nation's oldest conservative
lobbying organization; and,
Whereas the American Conservative Union’s founding Statement
of Principles, adopted in December 1964, recognizes the purpose of
the Constitution of The United States is to protect the inherent rights
and responsibilities of the individual by strictly limiting the power
and size of government; and,
Whereas national government spending has spiraled out of control in
recent years, with annual non-military and non-homeland security spending
increasing $303 Billion between Fiscal Year 2001 and Fiscal Year 2005,
the greatest spending increase under any preceding president and Congress
since the Great Depression;
Whereas the acknowledged Federal Debt has increased over $2 Trillion
since Fiscal Year 2000 and now stands at $7.9 Trillion; and,
Whereas the long-term unfunded debt of Medicare and Social Security
totals over $50 Trillion; and,
Whereas Congress and the president supported and passed a Medicare
prescription drug bill that is estimated by its Trustees to increase
government unfunded obligations by $16 Trillion (more that 150 percent
greater than the unfunded liability of Social Security); and,
Whereas this ever mounting federal debt is being inexcusably passed
on to future generations without regard as to how the debt will be
repaid; and,
Whereas the Bush Administration and the Republican controlled House
of Representatives and United States Senate have demonstrated a complete
lack of fiscal discipline during the past five years; and,
Whereas conservatives throughout the Unites States are increasingly
losing faith in the President and the Republican Leadership in Congress
to adequately prioritize and rein in overall federal spending; now
THEREFORE
BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Directors of the American
Conservative Union, acting on behalf of over one million ACU members
and supporters, do hereby call on President George W. Bush and the
Republican Leadership in Congress to take immediate and decisive action
to reduce in real terms the level of non-defense federal spending and
federal debt.
As recorded in the minutes of the Board of Directors of the American
Conservative Union assembled in regular meeting on August 8, 2005.
_________________________________
David A. Keene
Chairman of the Board
