RICHMONDNowadays, it seems ideas abound about how to cut federal spending and reduce a national deficit trillions in the red.
In Virginia, Republican Whip Eric Cantor and U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, a Democrat, each recently have touted proposals to reduce government expenses during these lean times.
The latest lawmaker to pitch a plan to curtail congressional spending is U.S. Rep. Glenn Nye, a Norfolk Democrat, who today is expected to file legislation to create a bipartisan commission to root out waste.
If enacted, the Stop Waste by Eliminating Excessive Programs Act, or SWEEP, would establish a panel to investigate ineffective and redundant government programs. Those found to be unnecessary could be consolidated or abolished outright.
Nye's staff highlighted some federal flood-prevention programs as among those with duplicative purposes.
"There is no current mechanism to identify and correct this irresponsible spending," Nye said in a statement.
"This legislation is about improving the way the federal government spends money," he continued, to ensure that "taxpayer dollars are allocated wisely and efficiently."
A message left with a spokesman for Scott Rigell, a Republican running against Nye this fall, seeking comment on the legislation was not immediately returned.
Ohio Rep. Charlie Wilson, a fellow member of the fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition, is co-sponsoring the bill with Nye.
Their proposal follows a legislative amendment Warner filed last week to eliminate funding for 17 federal programs recommended for termination by the federal government budget office over the years.
Passed by the House of Representatives last week, the Warner amendment could save the nation more than $800 million, the senator say s.
As with Nye's legislation, the programs Warner's amendment targets are various ly viewed as outdated, ineffective and redundant.
Separately, Cantor and a House GOP economic working group last month launched the interactive YouCut initiative, which seeks public input online about ways to reduce federal spending.
The option with the most votes each week is then championed by House Republicans who push for a floor vote on the proposed cut.
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