House Budget Committee to Hold Field Hearings on Spending Cuts

The House Budget Committee travels to Ohio, Arizona, South Carolina, New Jersey, and Montana during the next four weeks for hearings on federal spending. In announcing the public hearings entitled, “How Do We Cut the Federal Budget?,” committee chairman John Kasich (R-Ohio) said, “We’re taking Congress on the road to the places that never get asked their opinion...it’s about time we let the people do the talking and Congress do the listening.”

Each field hearing will last about 2 1/2 hours, and is open to the public and the media. The sessions are formatted so that “the views of the people attending will consume the majority of the hearing.” Kasich explained, “We want to hear from the real America outside the Washington Beltway, the America that pays the bills. Simply put, paid lobbyists and professional testifiers have had their chance and will not be allowed to speak. It’s time to hear from everyday people who will share reams of real life experience in making ends meet, not reams of special interest testimony.” The schedule released by the Budget Committee (telephone number 202-226-7270) follows:

January 21, 1995; 3:00 pm Columbus, Ohio: Ohio Dominican College Little Theater

January 28, 1995; 2:30 pm Prescott, Arizona: The Elks Theater

February 4, 1995; 2:00 pm Columbia, South Carolina: Airport High School Gymnasium

February 11, 1995; 1:00 pm Manville, New Jersey: VFW Post 2290 Meeting Hall

February 18, 1995; 2:00 pm Billings, Montana: Rocky Mountain College Gymnasium

The new Budget Committee will play a central role in implementing the Republican Contract With America since it will shape overall federal spending and taxation. The Budget Committee establishes goals and guidelines for other congressional committees to follow. The committee is formulating proposals to reduce federal spending by approximately $200 billion over five years to pay for the Contract with America. Last year, “Congressional Quarterly” said an unnamed Kasich aide stated that massive cuts in domestic spending programs, including the elimination of entire programs, are likely.

Seven joint working groups composed of members from the budget, authorization, and appropriations committees are developing budget policy guidance for the FY 1996 House Budget Resolution. The “Natural Resources/Science” Working Group has a “Science Research” Sub-Group. Rep. Wayne Allard (R-Colorado) is the Group’s chair. He is joined on the Sub-Group by Rep. Robert Walker (R-Pennsylvania) and freshman Rep. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas), who both sit on the Budget Committee. Walker wears two hats on this Sub-Group since he is House Science Committee chairman. Commerce Committee Chairman Thomas Bliley (R-Virginia) also serves on this Sub-Group, as do House Appropriations subcommittee chairs Harold Rogers (R-Kentucky) of Commerce-Justice-State, Jerry Lewis (R-California) of VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies, and John Myers (R-Indiana) of Energy and Water Development.