Fiscal Oversight Quotes

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.

I think every program needs to stand the sunshine of righteous scrutiny. Whether it's Social Security, whether it's Medicaid, whether it's Medicare.

Remarkably, there are leaders in Washington who don't understand why it's so important for us to have a budget.

Conservatives should insist that defense spending be examined with the same seriousness that we demand in examining the books of those government agencies that spend taxpayer money in the name of welfare, the environment, or education.

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.

Our objectives are clear. Let's keep the government open and protect our constituents.

Every year, virtually every governor balances the budget.

My goal was to do the best job I could in governing the state of Wisconsin, in some cases making very tough decisions to have to bring our spending in line with the resources we had at the state level.

Berlin has traditionally backed a rules-based eurozone in which every member state is responsible for its own finances, including bank bailouts, with political union limited to a fiscal overlord's possessing veto power over national budgets that violate the rules.

The failure to work out sensible budgets makes it impossible for government agencies to make long-term plans, and instead leaves them scrambling to spend money in the short term.

What's really important to me is that we have fiscally responsible balanced budgets.

Reviewing a government budget is much like going through the attic in an old home.

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.

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

We can't do everything with a budget, but we can put the country on much sounder financial footing.

I am a governor who left office with a smaller general fund budget than when we started.

Throughout the 40 years I've been in Washington, I've always worked hard, particularly with regards to the budget issues.

I know that for most people, seeing is believing when it comes to government efficiency.

What I wanted to do was see if we couldn't balance the budget.

I sign off not only every investment, but every dollar that goes out the door - I'm aware of it.

Our Defense Department is the best in the world at winning wars and protecting the country. However on basic management, and fiscal activities, their grade would be a D…. The Pentagon is the last obstacle we have to overcome in order to audit the Defense Department. They are unauditable today.

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

Setting the state budget is one of the most important tasks we undertake at the state Capitol - because after all, it's the people's money - not the government's.

The passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act - or stimulus bill, as it is often called - is a perfect example in which dire circumstances necessitate immediate action. But with such large amounts of taxpayer money at stake, a hastily developed, under-thought-out plan could have been disastrous.

Every public official concerned with administering public funds owes it to all our citizens to be prepared at any time to account to the last penny of the public money placed in his hands.