December 21, 2010

The Honorable John Boehner

H-204, U.S. Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Speaker-Elect Boehner,

On behalf of the millions of taxpayers represented by our

organizations, we write to urge you to institute a Committee on
Reduction of Nonessential Federal Expenditures in the House of
Representatives to combat and eliminate excessive federal
spending.

This “Anti-Appropriations Committee” should be modeled on the

Joint Committee on Nonessential Federal Expenditures, which was
operational from 1941 until 1974. Commonly referred to as the “Byrd
Committee” after its creator, Senator Harry F. Byrd Sr. (D-Va.), the
committee focused exclusively on cutting spending, much in the same
way the standing committees today focus on sanctioning new spending.
As such, the panel was able to net real savings for taxpayers, cutting
over $38 billion (in 2010 dollars) in waste and inefficiencies.

Many efforts to reduce government spending have been undermined

by the distraction of spending and taxes – history shows that only when
the temptation of spending is removed can fiscal prudence take center
stage. The success of the Byrd Committee was due to this singular
nature; tasked only with cutting spending, rather than appropriating,
the committee was able to propose targeted and effective rescissions.

Established in the wake of the New Deal, the Byrd Committee

was able to dial back some of the unprecedented government
growth of the preceding decade. After two years of failed
“stimulus” efforts, government bailouts, and ballooning
discretionary spending, taxpayers today would be well-served by
similar initiatives to adjust the big government ethos of
Washington.

As such, we urge you to institute the Committee on Reduction of

Nonessential Federal Expenditures for the 112th Congress.

Sincerely,
60 Plus Association, Jim Martin, Chairman
Aloha for All, Inc. H. William Burgess, Chairman
American Civil Rights Union, Susan A. Carleson, Chairman and CEO
American Conservative Union, David A. Keene, Chairman
American Legislative Exchange Council, Jonathan Williams, Director
of Tax and Fiscal Policy Tax Force
Americans for Tax Reform, Grover Norquist, President
Business Coalition for Fair Competition, John Palatiello, President
Campaign for Liberty, John Tate, President
Center for Fiscal Accountability, Mattie Corrao, Executive Director
Center-Right Coalition of Florida, Rick Watson, Chairman
Citizen Outreach, Chuck Muth, President
Citizens for Limited Taxation, Chip Faulkner, Associate Director
Citizens for the Republic, Bill Pascoe, Executive Vice President
Club for Growth, Chris Chocola, President
Competitive Enterprise Institute, John Berlau, Director of the Center
for Investors and Entrepreneurs
ConservativeHQ.com, Richard Viguerie, Chairman
Core Principles Newsletter & Michigan Center-Right Coalition, Jack
Hoogendyk, Chairman
Council for America, Ron Pearson, President
Daryl Metcalfe, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, State
Representative
Eagle Forum, Phyllis Schlafly, President
Kau Tea Party and Kona Tea Party, Donna Sweere, Organizer
Hispanic Leadership Fund, Mario H. Lopez, President
Illinois Policy Institute, John Tillman, CEO
Institute for Policy Innovation, Tom Giovanetti, President
Less Government, Seton Motley, President
Liberty Central, Ginni Thomas, Founder
Liberty Consulting, Inc, Ginni Thomas, President and CEO
Liberty Counsel, Matt Staver, Founder and Chairman
National Tax Limitation Committee, Lewis K. Uhler, President
National Taxpayers Union, Duane Parde, President
Ocean State Policy Research Institute, Bill Felkner, Director of Policy
and Organizing
Ohio Faith and Freedom Coalition, Ken Blackwell, Chairman
Public Interest Institute, Dr. Don Racheter, President
ReAL Action Network, Rick Tyler, President
RightMarch.com, Dr. William Greene, President
Rio Grande Foundation, Paul Gessing, President
Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, Karen Kerrigan, President
and CEO
Smart Business Hawaii, Sam Slom, President
Taxpayers Association of Oregon, Jason Williams, Executive Director
Tea Party Express, Amy Kremer, Chairman
Tea Party WDC, Lisa Miller, President
The Tennessee ConserVOLiance, Ken Marrero, Founder
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, Michael Quinn Sullivan, President
Traditional Values Coalition, Andrea Lafferty, Executive Director
Wyoming Liberty Group, Susan Gore, Founder
Young Americans for Freedom, Jordan Marks, Executive Director

Cc: All Members of the United States House of Representatives