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When we launched YouCut over a year ago, we could have never imagined how enthused people were by the effort, how engaged they became, and how successful the program would be in achieving its mission of changing the culture of spending into a culture of savings. Millions of votes were cast across the country to encourage the House to cut spending, and that is exactly what we continue to do. Now, as our new majority continues to work to cut spending and grow our economy, it's time to transform YouCut to its next phase. Take a moment to review the options and vote on which spending cut you believe should be sponsored by the YouCut program.
Terminate federal funding for the Asia Foundation
Potential savings: up to $170 million over ten years The Asia Foundation is a non-governmental organization that seeks to promote improved governance, the rule of law, development of institutions of civil society, economic development, and women’s empowerment in Asian countries. The foundation receives annual appropriations from the U.S. government in addition to private fundraising from corporate and foundation donors such as Boeing, Chevron, Coca Cola, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Total program activities in 2010 were $98 million, of which the federal government’s contribution represented approximately 20 percent. Given the significant private sector support for the work of the foundation, it should become totally self-sustaining without government funding. |
Stop using federal construction funds for commissioning artwork
Potential Savings: up to $42 million over ten years The Art in Architecture program directs the General Services Administration to divert one-half of one percent of the cost of any new federal building construction or major renovation project for commissioning new artwork to adorn the building or grounds. Generally this set-aside is responsible for large abstract sculpture installations near federal buildings. Removing this set-aside would reduce unnecessary construction costs for federal building projects. |
Reduce funding for poor performing grantees in the Community Services Block Grant program
Potential Savings: up to $3.2 billion over 10 years The Community Services Block Grant provides funds by formula to states for operating programs to reduce poverty by providing low income persons with services targeted to education, housing assistance, nutrition, health, substance abuse and economic self-sufficiency. The program is a legacy of Lyndon Johnson’s failed war on poverty and requires that states pass through 90 percent of their funding to specifically designated Community Action Agencies or Community Action Programs. Many of these mandated grantees have remained unchanged since the initial law was enacted in 1964.There is no process for re-competing grant awards or ensuring that grantees are effective providers of services. In fact, states have found it difficult to terminate funds to grantees guilty of fraud or gross mismanagement. The Obama administration’s FY 2013 budget proposes to reform the program by establishing performance goals for local grantees, and creating a process where grant awards for poor performing organizations can be terminated and opened up for competition by more effective service providers. The budget also substantially reduces funding for the program, from $677 million in fiscal year 2012 to $350 million in fiscal year 2013. Adopting the President’s proposal to reform the CSBG program would save $3.2 billion over the next 10 years. |
