U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble (R-WI) introduced legislation last week that would return the ability to establish priorities and control federal spending back to Congress.
The Power of the Purse Act of 2015 essentially takes down the “firewall” that stands between defense and non-defense spending, returning the responsibility for making those critical discretionary spending decisions to Congress.
“Benjamin Franklin said that a nation is best off when control of its money is handled by those who are the most ‘immediate representatives of the people,’ ” Ribble explained. “And by removing the arbitrary firewall that exists under the sequestration budget caps between defense and non-defense discretionary spending, we restore that control to Congress.”
Ribble said many threats exist today that are forcing Republicans and Democrats to put aside their differences when it comes to defense spending. Chief among those threats is the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the Congressman said.
He also noted that the nation is dealing with an aging transportation system that has no funding for repairs or improvements, plus health care costs continue to rise and many college students have too much debt. Under current law, he said, Congress does not have the ability to prioritize the use of taxpayer dollars to fulfill the nation’s most urgent needs.
“While it is crucial that we continue to work to rein in federal spending and cut our deficits, the people’s elected representatives must have the power to direct spending where it is needed most,” Ribble concluded. “The Power of the Purse Act of 2015 allows Congress to do just that.”