Harry Hopkins Quotes

The same prudence which in private life would forbid our paying our own money for unexplained projects, forbids it in the dispensation of public moneys.

I firmly believe that the most important feature of spending the people's money is complete transparency.

In our recovery package we put new standards of accountability and transparency, which we hope will now apply.

The American people need to know that money is being used effectively because frankly, the nation can't afford careless spending, no matter how well-intentioned.

Our national leaders could learn some good habits and important lessons from city hall to take the place of the various gimmicks being used in Washington to duck federal budget responsibility.

Government ... simply has no bottom line.

Political leaders, elected by the public and vested with the power to shape public life, owe it to citizens to set better standards regarding their use of money, and their conduct, both in and out of office.

Congress is not an ATM

I did not come into government to win an award as the great accountant in the sky and balance budgets.

I'm gonna watch the taxpayers' money like I was elected to do.

I know as well as anyone that the American people want to know that their hard-earned dollars are being spent wisely by government officials.

I look forward to being a voice of reason in fighting for transparent and accountable budgets.

We represent the people's money, and we have to be good stewards of that.

It is not an arrogant government that chooses priorities, it's an irresponsible government that fails to choose.

We are not spending the Federal Government's money, we are spending the taxpayer's money, and it must be spent n a way which guarantees his money's worth and yields the fullest possible benefit to the people being helped.

The public treasure has been duly applied to the uses to which it was appropriated by Parliament, and regular accounts have been annually laid before Parliament, of every article of expense.

My conviction of the necessity of further legislative provisions for the safe-keeping and disbursement of the public moneys and my opinion in regard to the measures best adapted to the accomplishment of those objects have been already submitted to you.

It is the duty of those serving the people in public place to closely limit public expenditures to the actual needs of the Government economically administered.

Our system of keeping the federal government's books is a monument to the creativity of mankind ... We've cut government spending for 15 years in a row, and yet have spent more money in each of those years.

It is necessary to watch people in Washington all the time to keep them from unnecessary expenditure of money.

It is dangerous to play politics with the Budget.

Government does not have basic business sense.

From now on, the government has to make its accounts public on a quarterly basis.

We need to deliver efficient, transparent government.

We can't let government make long-term commitments that it may not be able to keep.