U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) has introduced a bipartisan bill that would require federal appointees to return illegal expenditures to American taxpayers.
The Cut the Perks Act, H.R. 6295, specifically would require political appointees to personally reimburse the United States government for illegal expenditures of public money, according to a summary of H.R. 6295 provided by the congressman’s office. U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) introduced H.R. 6295 on June 28 with U.S. Reps. Fitzpatrick, Steve Stivers (R-OH), and Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) among the measure’s five original cosponsors.
“I understand the crucial importance of clean government and anti-corruption efforts to maintaining the trust between every American citizen and their government officials,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick, who prior to being elected to Congress worked as a special agent in the FBI’s Political Corruption Unit.
Currently, federal law does not provide recourse for taxpayers if an Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) determine that a federal official’s expense is illegal, according to a July 2 statement from Rep. Fitzpatrick’s office.
“Any federal government official found to be making illegal taxpayer-funded purchases should be held fully accountable,” Rep. Fitzpatrick said. “By making these federal officials personally reimburse the taxpayer, the Cut the Perks Act would begin restoring the essential trust between the American people and their government.”
Rep. Sinema added that in her home state, “Arizonans are sick and tired of having their hard-earned tax dollars wasted.” H.R. 6295 “demands accountability,” she said. “I will continue to work across the aisle to stand up for Arizona taxpayers.”
H.R. 6295 has been referred to the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee for consideration.