Congressman John Campbell's Blog - Green Eyeshade Blog

Tuesday, April 01, 2008

Posted by: John Campbell at 2:50 PM

Those of you who follow Congressional proceedings closely will know that tomorrow the House will take up consideration for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). This legislation has been tossed around in committee between Republicans and Democrats before a “bipartisan agreement” was reached

Originally PEPFAR was authorized for $15 billion ($3 billion for five years). Presently, PEPFAR gets about $6 billion a year. This new legislation being considered would increase this authorization to $10 billion per year or $50 billion over 5 years.

But the simple fact remains, it spends too much money.

Today, I submitted an amendment that will level fund the program at 3 billion per year.

The point here is that PEPFAR and numerous other government programs spend too much money. PEPFAR increases the overall foreign aid program by 15%, by itself. All in a year when the economy is teetering on recession.

We now have a deficit projected at over $400 billion and increasing; and many people here in Washington are talking about raising taxes. With spending programs like this, we will never get to a balance if we keep increasing such programs by over 300%. Not to mention, programs like these are separate of our defense and domestic needs

If there was a time to pull in the reins on spending, it is now.

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Leebyrd writes:	Tuesday, April, 01, 2008 6:22 PM
Can It!
AIDS - foreign aid - emergency - how many other programs does this one overlap with????? How about scrapping the whole program!!!! Try it, the sky won't fall in! Are we really getting our monies worth for whatever you think PEPFAR is or should be doing???
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WARetreatWatchdog writes:	Tuesday, April, 01, 2008 7:29 PM
Don't can it...
PEPFAR is well known around Africa as a do-good American foriegn aid program. Make damn sure the money is getting to the poor folks and tie it to improving conditions, but maintain (not increase) the funding please.
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RobC writes:	Wednesday, April, 02, 2008 12:20 AM
Careful
They might think you said rain in spending like the last Republican Congress
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ezag writes:	Wednesday, April, 02, 2008 1:18 PM
Tax and Spend
Spending simply cannot be controlled until taxation is reconnected to spending. The Hedge Tax (www.hedgehogparty.com) explains how this can be achieved. Ezag
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tim_cuchullaine writes:	Wednesday, April, 02, 2008 1:35 PM
Whence the Constitutional authority
for redistributing one thin dime of my money to foreign nationals? AIDS is tragic; may the people of Africa learn to suppress their urges to fornicate and share needles. The American public lost control of its government when it lost ownership of its labor back in 1913, the year that saw the advent of The Federal Reserve and the income tax. The Fed--not the free market--determines the purchasing power of earnings and savings; the income tax determines how much of our peacefully acquired property our lords in the swamp will graciously allow us to retain for personal use. With respect to Congressman Campbell, his crusade agains earmark abuse is next to worthless, as earmarks are an immaterial portion of the federal budget. He would do a greater service to this nation by fighting to abolish the income tax and The Federal Reserve.
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Kenny Z writes:	Thursday, April, 03, 2008 4:04 PM
Congressional spending
Does anyone believe that congress gives two hoots about the American people? They don't have to work; get great salaries; have a wonderful retirement program; do not have to produce; and all leave office multi-millionaires! Much of the blame can be thrown on our backs for electing and re-electing them. Our congressmen think taxes are theirs to play with. We are given a small selection of people we can vote for and they are put in place long before any elections by people in power - the wealthy usually. We are a debtor nation and the chasm between haves and have nots is continually widening. Remember that if you spend one dollar a second twenty-four hours a day seven days a week, it would take you 31,866 years to spend a trillion dollars. Yes that is THIRTY ONE MILLION EIGHT HUNDRED AND SIXTY SIX YEARS.
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Kenny Z writes:	Thursday, April, 03, 2008 4:07 PM
Congressional spending
Sorry the above should have read THIRTY ONE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND SIXTY SIX YEARS.
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About John Campbell

John Campbell is a member of the House Financial Services Committee, and has taken a leadership role in addressing the country's top economic issues. Campbell serves as a member of the Joint Economic Committee, and House Committee on the Budget. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from UCLA and a Master's Degree in Taxation from USC.