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Politics

Dennis Ross Brings Back Zero-Based Budgeting Proposal

January 24, 2017 - 9:00am
Dennis Ross
Dennis Ross

Senior deputy majority whip, U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla., has brought back his “Zero-based Budgeting Ensures Responsible Oversight (ZERO) Act” legislation.

The bill requires federal agencies and departments to "justify and approve" every line item on their budgets each year, rather than make slight changes to the previous year’s budget. The proposal has been a top priority for Ross over the last six years.

After winning election to Congress for the first time back in 2011, Ross introduced the proposal for the first time. 

Ross first brought out the bill earlier this month but highlighted it this week.  On Monday, Ross explained why he was continuing his fight for the bill. 

“With our national debt reaching nearly $20 trillion, we must take all measures possible to eliminate egregious government spending and ensure that hard-earned taxpayer dollars are spent wisely,” Ross said. “That is why I reintroduced my legislation, the ZERO Act. This bill requires agency and department managers to justify every line item on their budgets each year so we can rein in the waste, fraud and abuse of massive government bureaucracies. American families and small businesses across my district and the U.S. know the best way to balance their budgets is to start at zero. Washington needs to follow their lead.”

Ross’ office pointed to both the private and public sectors, insisting zero-based budgeting helped “curb inflation and identify waste.” The proposal would ensure federal departments justify spending to Congress and would make all spending reviewed annually. Ross’ bill would also make federal departments propose three levels of spending, two of which must be below the current level. 

So far, Ross’ bill has gathered little momentum and he has not rounded up any co-sponsors for his proposal. The bill was sent to the U.S. House Budget Committee when he brought it out two weeks ago. 

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