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Rep. LaMalfa Supports Budget Agreement that Reduces Spending and Increases Transparency

January 17, 2014

For Immediate Release

December 12, 2013

Washington, DC – Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) today voted in favor a measure setting federal funding for the coming fiscal year at $1.012 trillion, a reduction of $115 billion from the $1.127 trillion the government was spending when LaMalfa took office. The bill, H.J. Res. 59, was negotiated by the chairmen of the House and Senate budget committees and passed the House on a bipartisan 332-94 vote.

"The measure we passed today represents a true compromise that both sides agree on and still reduces federal spending significantly," said LaMalfa. "While I would support a budget that further reduces funding to sequester levels, such a plan does not have enough votes to pass. This budget recognizes the realities of divided government while staying true to conservative principles. We've protected the military from cuts, passed federal pension reform and included new protections against waste, fraud and abuse."

"This agreement brings transparency to the budget process and returns control of spending to Congress by ending the practice of passing Continuing Resolutions, which essentially rubber-stamp the President's spending plans and empower bureaucracies," LaMalfa added. "Passing a budget means that the House will hold open hearings and consider each program on its merits in a true appropriations process, rather than imply giving the President a lump sum to use almost as he sees fit. We're moving away from the status quo and restoring Congress' power to restrain spending through an open appropriations process."

Major components of the budget plan include the following:

· $28 billion in targeted deficit reduction cuts that replace the blanket;

· The plan reforms new federal employees' share of pension contributions to save over $6 billion, without affecting current retirees.

· Medicare payments are streamlined to create $1.4 billion in savings;

· Over $240 million is saved by preventing inmates from receiving fraudulent tax returns and unemployment payments;

· Over $160 million in fraudulent unemployment payments are blocked through state-federal cooperation.

A brief video clip of Rep. LaMalfa discussing his vote may be found at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/embed/bjH_kD29khc

Spending figures are drawn from the 2013 Congressional Research Service report, "The Budget Control Act of 2011: The Effects on Spending and the Budget Deficit".

Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California's First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.