Owens Returns More Than 15 Percent of 2010 Office Budget
From the office of Congressman Owens
WASHINGTON – Congressman Bill Owens announced today that he will return more than $230,000 of his 2010 Congressional office budget to the United States Treasury to help pay down the federal deficit. This is the second consecutive year that Owens has returned in excess of 15 percent of his annual allotment to the treasury.
“As Upstate New York families and small business owners continue to tighten their belts, so too must every member of Congress,” said Owens “We cannot seriously talk about reducing the national debt and deficit without first operating our own offices in a fiscally responsible manner. I am pleased to return this portion of my office budget to the treasury and plan on returning funds again next year.”
When Members of Congress produce a budget surplus by the end of a calendar year, they have the option to return the overage to the United States Treasury. Owens’ return of more than $230,000 is consistent with his fiscally responsible voting record. Since being elected to Congress in November of 2009, Owens has twice voted against raising the debt ceiling, helped to pass the IMPROVE Act <http://owens.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=183459> , and introduced a key piece of legislation aimed at debt reduction, the War on Debt Act <http://owens.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=218978> .
This year, Owens also voted to pass H.Res 22, which reduced the 2011 office budget for every member of Congress by five percent.
Posted: March 15th, 2011 under Congressional News.