H.R. 6131: Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO) Introduces Federal Furlough Bill to Save Taxpayers $5.5 Billion

Never heard of Coffman, and this bill will never see the light of day, but it's a hell of an idea.  I'm guessing the Deficit President (watch him struggle with baseball's opening-day pitch) is no fan of this idea.

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(WASHINGTON) — Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO) this week introduced a bill that would subject federal civilian employees to a two week furlough in 2011 and reduce salaries of members of Congress by 10 percent saving taxpayers more than $5.5 billion.  The bill, H.R. 6134, is a one year measure to reduce federal spending and combat the unsustainable deficit spending in Washington.

Introducing his bill, Coffman remarked, “Currently, at least 24 states, and nearly three quarters of a million workers, are undertaking a budget-cutting maneuver that I believe we should institute at the federal level: short term employee furloughs.  These states, across the nation, along with city and county government counterparts, recognize that occasional worker furloughs are necessary to cut budgets and hold down spending.  It also has the benefit of ensuring that federal workers are not sheltered from the realities of life in today’s economy.”

“One of the most unpleasant adjustments a former small businessman or former state legislator - and I am both - faces in coming to Washington is the unlimited ability of the federal government to deficit spend.  Furlough Fridays are becoming a common occurrence for state and local governments. They present slight problems but they provide large solutions to the budget troubles we face.  I believe that managed appropriately, with due allowance for vital and national security implications, as specified in this bill, they can do the same for the federal government.”

“The federal government continues to grow, and continues to rack up debt.  I would like to make the U.S. government as cost conscious as the states.  My legislation is a start,” Coffman concluded.

Coffman’s bill, H.R. 6134, will make federal civilian employees subject to a non-consecutive two week furlough in 2011, correspondingly reduce appropriations for salaries and expenses for offices of the legislative branch, and provide a 10 percent reduction in pay for members of Congress.  An exception is provided for national security or reasons relating to public health or safety, including law enforcement.  Coffman’s bill will save the federal government over $5.5 billion.

H.R. 6134 is available here.

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Related reading:

• Federal Pay Continues To Skyrocket
  

• Gary Shilling: Government Salaries Are Out Of Control; Get Ready For A Tax Revolt (VIDEO)

• The Beholden State: How Public Sector Unions Bankrupted California (MUST READ EXPOSE)

• State Public Employee Salaries Out Of Control (MISH)

• I left My Heart (And Fat Public-Employee Paycheck) In San Francisco

• Police Officer Appalled By How Much Money He Makes, Thinks Government Salaries Are Outrageous (Check out the pic of the police Porsche)
  

Comments

[DailyBail]

Obama Can't Throw A Baseball (Opening Day Video)

http://dailybail.com/home/obama-cant-throw-a-baseball-opening-day-video.html

[DailyBail]

H.R. 6134-This one will never see the light of day

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2010/09/hr_6134this_one_will_never_see.html

[DailyBail]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9Qs2afhIOk

Mike Coffman video on balanced budget amendment...

[DailyBail]

http://www.federalnewsradio.com/?nid=35&sid=2055749

Bill calls for two weeks of federal furlough

[DailyBail]

Sarah Palin speech in Iowa keeps fans guessing

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20100917/NEWS09/9170359/1001/NEWS/Palin-Iowa-visit-keeps-fans-guessing

Don't do it sarah..you have no shot...

[DailyBail]

To listen to President Obama, you'd think we were in the grip of a never-ending hostage crisis.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20016851-503544.html

[DailyBail]

Still for sale: Jesse James lowers price on California home he shared with Sandra Bullock

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1312964/Jesse-James-lowers-price-California-home-shared-Sandra-Bullock.html

[Cheyenne]

Great link to Obama's opening pitch and that interview, DB. Jesus, the President of the United States of America is wearing a White Sox cap but can't even come up with Frank Thomas or Shoeless Joe? Really all you need to know about leadership in this country, presently configured at least.

[DailyBail]

The arm was weak and the knowledge of baseball...ComiNsky park he called it...not especially impressive...

[DailyBail]

Congressman Coffman started to follow our stories on Twitter tonight...he's now one of our measly 738 followers...actually it's a decent number...but our readers tend to use facebook 30X as much as twitter...and yet i have not built a Facebook page for the bail...it's been a weekend project that has been avoided for 21 months...

[Kijng]

I though Bush was the deficit President. Oh yeah...facts got in your way....again

[S. Gompers]

They are pretty much all deficit Presidents since Jackson, but really up ramping since the peanut farmer left town. Might want to check them pesky fact thingies...

http://cedarcomm.com/~stevelm1/usdebt.htm

[DailyBail]

all presidents are deficit presidents...you are quite correct gomp...