WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) called for an across-the-board cut to the budgets of all Congressional offices as a means for cutting additional spending on Monday. The request came in a letter to Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch Chairman Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Ranking Member John Hoeven (R-ND).

“As your committee looks for ways to cut additional spending from this year’s budget, I strongly urge you to cut Congress’ budget as well,” Senator Coons wrote. “We in Congress must do our part, too, by accepting cuts to our administrative budgets. Though the savings from these cuts will not solve our fiscal problems, it is important for Congress to lead by example and share in the sacrifices we will ask families in Delaware and across the country to make.”

Senator Coons – a member of the Senate Budget Committee – cut millions in wasteful spending and restored fiscal responsibility to New Castle County government before being elected to the Senate in 2010. As County Executive, he cut his own pay and asked all county employees doing the same, ultimately cutting $130 million in spending.

The text of the letter follows:

March 7, 2011

The Honorable Ben Nelson and the Honorable John Hoeven
Chairman and Ranking Member
Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch
Committee on Appropriations
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Chairman Nelson and Ranking Member Hoeven:

During a time of record deficits when families and businesses are tightening their belts, we in Congress have a responsibility to do the same.  As your committee looks for ways to cut additional spending from this year’s budget, I strongly urge you to cut Congress’ budget as well. 

While we work to bolster our economic recovery, we also have a responsibility to reduce deficits and take steps to lower our national debt.  This will require spending restraint across government and, regrettably, painful cuts to important programs.  We in Congress must do our part, too, by accepting cuts to our administrative budgets. Though the savings from these cuts will not solve our fiscal problems, it is important for Congress to lead by example and share in the sacrifices we will ask families in Delaware and across the country to make.”

As New Castle County Executive, I balanced our county’s budget during the recession by making difficult choices and cutting funding to programs I truly believed were beneficial to county residents.  As part of that effort, I cut the county’s administrative budget and required all county departments to share in a reduction of our operating budget, affecting all of our county administrative workers.  It was not what we would have preferred to do in an ideal situation, but in difficult financial times everyone must pitch in and do what is necessary.  The county employees understood this, and I know that the hardworking women and men who work as staff in the United States Senate, including my own office, will accept this as well.

I look forward to working with you and the rest of our colleagues to find additional ways to cut costs and achieve meaningful deficit reduction as we continue to move forward with the budget process. 

Sincerely,

Christopher A. Coons
United States Senator

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