We need to replace hyperbole with a reasonable, informed discussion about how to reinvent the federal budget with more transparency and better accountability.
I have every right to know how my taxes are spent, how every single penny of it is spent. I have the right to know that.
Before we give the government any more money, show us some receipts.
We need more transparency and accountability in government so that people know how their money is being spent. That means putting budgets online, putting legislation online.
The president's budget request today demonstrates his unwillingness to come clean on the true costs of his agenda. A penny saved is not a penny earned if at the end of the day you still owe a quarter.
I will fight for budget honesty and eliminating the deficit to reduce the transfer of debt to younger generations.
Spending should be transparent. All spending by the Pentagon should be online. Every check. Exceptions should be made for legitimate national security issues. But military and civilian pay and retirement benefits are not state secrets. This has already been done in many state governments.
Budgets are moral documents. When you put your budget on the table, we see what you really are.
When people see the budget, they're going to say, 'Oh, my God, I wanted a tax cut, but I didn't know what you were going to do to health care and to Medicare and national defense.'
The GAO just released a report that said 22 percent of federal programs fail to meet their objectives. The truth is we don't know how taxpayer money is spent in Washington, D.C., which is why I think we ought to put every agency budget up on the Internet for everyone to see.
America has two national budgets, one official, one unofficial.
We plan to lift the veil of secrecy surrounding the preparation of the budget. We also plan to open up the process of government appointments.
