YouCut Initiative Will Let Voters Put Spending on the Chopping Block

            Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL-13) today joined with her colleagues in the House Republican Economic Recovery Working Group to launch a new online initiative aimed at challenging the culture of wasteful spending in Washington.  The YouCut initiative will allow Americans to vote – online or via cell phone – from a menu of proposals to cut wasteful spending, and each week, House Republicans will force an up-or-down vote on the House floor to bring up the most popular cut.  Biggert issued the following statement:

            “Washington has a spending problem, and taxpayers are tired of watching their money get siphoned away for wasteful schemes that only a government bureaucrat could care about.  This project will give Americans a chance to vote on the cut of their choice, and see that cut brought before the House for a vote.  It’s all about giving taxpayers a direct voice on how they want lawmakers to spend their time – spending or finding savings.  And it’s about changing the culture in Washington that has given us ever-rising debts, record spending, and stunted economic growth. 

           “The cuts we’ll be voting on won’t solve the nation’s debt issues, but YouCut will be one more tool to force leaders in Congress to start thinking critically about spending, and start looking for ways to save – no matter how small.  It’s the Washington mentality that has to change.  To accomplish that task, we’re tapping into the popular wisdom of taxpayers – “American Idol”-style – to cure that spending addiction one cut at a time.”

Editor’s note: To learn more about YouCut, visit http://republicanwhip.house.gov/YouCut.  Today, May 12, 2010, at 2:15 pm Eastern Time, GOP Whip Eric Cantor and members of the House Republican Economic Recovery Working Group will hold a media availability to announce the launch of YouCut and further outline the initiative.  The meeting will take place in H-307 of the Capitol Building and will be open to local media via conference call.  For call-in information, contact Zachary Cikanek at (202) 225-3515.

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