Release:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator George V. Voinovich (R-OH), regarded by many of his colleagues as the Senate’s top “debt hawk,” today was appointed to the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee. Upon being appointed, Sen. Voinovich promised to bring the common sense, hard-nosed fiscal approach from his days as mayor of Cleveland and governor of Ohio to the appropriations process. In this new role he will forcefully advocate greater oversight, tougher standards and the setting of real priorities. Due to Senate rules, this new committee assignment will bring Sen. Voinovich’s tenure on the Foreign Relations Committee to an end. He will continue to serve on the Environment and Public Works Committee and the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.He'll do less damage on Approps than on Foreign Relations, so this is GREAT NEWS!
“America’s fiscal situation is dire and is getting worse by the day. The federal government continues to spend more than it brings in and cannot sustain itself working this way forever. I believe that Congress can be a true steward of the taxpayer dollar through transparency and prioritization. Over the last two years, Ohio has lost three of its appropriators – Mike DeWine, Ralph Regula and Dave Hobson. While foreign affairs has always been and will continue to be one of my top priorities, I could not in good conscience turn down the opportunity to serve the people of Ohio on this vitally important committee during such perilous times. I hope to be able to help Ohio in a way that is fiscally responsible while pushing Congress to work harder and smarter. And I hope to keep Congress on time for a change. In 27 of the past 30 years, Congress has failed to enact all the appropriations bills by the start of the fiscal year. This irresponsible fiscal policy affects our economy, interferes with our ability to maintain and improve our infrastructure, hurts our ability to fight the War on Terror and impedes efforts to enhance our education system. This is irresponsible management and it has to stop.”
Item #2: Voinovich will join Senators Joe Lieberman, Susan Collins, and Daniel Akaka with GAO Acting Comptroller Gene Dodaro in a press conference at noon today to release GAO’s list of agencies at high risk of waste, fraud, and abuse.
