Sand Lake, WI -- U.S. Senator Russ Feingold today addressed the current federal budget negotiations in Congress, and criticized the budgeting gimmicks that lawmakers employ to avoid spending caps and spend the Social Security surplus.

"As leaders in Congress work to hammer out a budget deal for fiscal year 2000, we get a good look at some of the "creative" budgeting techniques that try -- unsuccessfully -- to avoid fiscal realities," Feingold said. "These budget gimmicks create short term political gains, putting off the fiscal responsibility that is required to truly protect the Social Security surplus."

Feingold highlighted three techniques used to mask additional spending, including the practice of labeling ordinary spending as "emergency spending" to get around budget caps. Under budget rules, total spending for discretionary programs, such as defense and education, are capped. While Congress makes an exception for emergencies like hurricanes, floods or earthquakes, some lawmakers are abusing that exception by trying to designate long-anticipated expenditures, such as the coming 2000 Census, as an "emergency" for budgeting purposes.

Feingold also pointed to other budgeting gimmicks, such as spending money for Fiscal Year 2000 on the first day of Fiscal Year 2001 to avoid budget restraints, and the irresponsible use of budget estimates. Feingold explained that congressional budgeters consistently choose the lowest – rather than the most accurate – estimates for upcoming expenditures, and as a result have underestimated coming fiscal year expenses by as much as $18 billion dollars.

"These budget gimmicks make a mockery of our federal budget caps," Feingold said. "Congressional budgeters may pay lip service to fiscal responsibility, but in fact they are putting off tough choices and putting the Social Security surplus in jeopardy," Feingold said.

Feingold's 60th Listening Session of 1999, and the 492nd since he was first elected in 1992, was held at the Stone Lake Lions Hall beginning at 7:15 a.m. Feingold's 61st session of 1999, and 493rd since he was first elected, was held at the Chippewa Valley Technical College Campus - River Falls beginning at 11:15 a.m. Feingold renewed his pledge to hold sessions in all of the state's 72 counties every year after keeping his promise to do so during his last term.