Tennessee U.S. Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) is calling on House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-20) to re-establish the Byrd Committee for the purpose of examining all federal government spending and identifying non-essential funding.
The Byrd Committee, formally known as the Joint Committee on Reduction of Non-Essential Federal Expenditures, existed from 1941 to 1974. The joint committee was a study committee, without legislative authority, according to a report by the Congressional Research Service. The committee’s recommendations on cutting or reducing non essential spending were reported to the House and Senate and submitted to the Appropriations Committees.
“At a time when federal spending is out of control, and Congress truly has no idea where exactly all the money is going, renewed accountability is necessary. Crippling rates of inflation and unprecedented levels of expenditures are destroying the financial well-being of Americans,” Ogles said in an emailed statement. “The re-establishment of a Byrd Committee to identify all of the waste in current and proposed spending would help drive down costs and bring relief to millions of hard-working folks. Furthermore, it would create desperately needed transparency in Washington.”
“I’m calling on Speaker McCarthy to take action and protect the interests of the American people,” Ogles added.
Ogles’ request for the re-formation of the Byrd Committee comes as House Republicans came to a deal on a one-month government funding bill this weekend, according to ABC News. However, as noted by the outlet, it remains unclear if there are enough GOP votes in the House to pass the bill, as many members in the House Freedom Caucus – which includes Ogles – have said they will refuse to vote for a continuing resolution unless it has “conservative policies attached.”
In addition to his Byrd Committee request, Ogles also expressed his desire for three additional requirements for a continuing resolution, including border wall funding; the release of unedited footage from the U.S. Capitol breach on January 6, 2021; and utilization of the Holman Rule to defund DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and U.S. prosecutor Jack Smith.
– – –
Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Rep Andy Ogles” by Rep Andy Ogles.
Thank you Representative Ogles. We see how out of control spending has gotten since the Bird Committee ceased to exist. We, the taxpayers, deserve to know how our dollars are being spent. That’s the number one job of our elected officials. Just think what it would be like if we knew this bloated government was being reduced. We may be able to reduce taxes on the people who fund this government.
Since the disgraceful exposure during the Covid experience of our dollars going to our enemies to produce bioweapons that can be used against us & labs in Ukraine & God knows where else. Monies granted to wealthy universities to study ridiculous junk. No tax dollars should go to Private Wealthy Universities that teach Anti-American Ideologies.
It seems to we taxpayers that we keep giving more & more, but our Schools, Interstates, Bridges, Airports, Railways, etc are getting worse, not better. The so-called infrastructure bill is a joke. The House has so much Power in controlling the budget & spending, but they aren’t using it. The Dems sure do.
Time to get tough. The “entitled Dems & media” will throw temper tantrums, but its because there is so much incestuous relationships between the media & deep State.
Universities that have Confuscious Centers & Chinese National Students who are really spies. Give some tax dollars back to hard working Americans, & the Republicans will keep House in 2024.
One thing I never hear anyone speak to is eliminating the IRS taxes on Social Security recipients. We willingly gave a portion of our wages each payday all our lives, trusting Congress to invest wisely to fund our retirement in our golden years. But that has not happened. The Pension Fund has been used for other government spending. My question is “Why do Social Security recipients pay IRS taxes on the small monthly checks that we receive?” Get that tax removed, & we will keep the House.
Get emrid of Patriot Act. Close the Border & send illegals back to their countries of origin. The thousands of Chinese Nationals aren’t escaping from China. They are allowed to leave. Is anyone tracking them? Apparently, there are secret Chinese Police Stations around the Country. Is this their destiny?
Laws are going to have to be passed giving power to Federally Prosecute Doctors & other Gender Dysphoria ” Specialists”, who perform their phony VooDoo on innocent children. I thinks it’s right up there with a murder conviction. In addition, they should lose their licenses to ever practice in any medical capacity in America.
This Federal Government is so Mobidly Obese, it’s killing our Republic. And I’ve just touched on a few problems.
Time to take this country back to a sane place to live, succeed & raise a family.
Well done Representative Ogles. Any elected representative that is not in favor of reducing fraud waste and abuse is in favor of it.