WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) called on his colleagues in the Senate to cut their office budgets by at least five percent in 2011.  Wicker urged that this money be used to reduce the federal deficit, which totaled more than $1 trillion last year.

“As conservatives, we should be calling for hard cuts in the federal budget, but how can we do that if we are not willing to make those cuts ourselves?” said Wicker.  “If we are going to solve our fiscal problems, we must start by demonstrating we are committed to reduce spending, so I am calling on all members of the Senate to cut their office budget by at least five percent.  This is an important initial step that could save more than $20 million this year.  At a time when American families are making tough choices and tightening their belts, the Senate should be accountable for its spending first.”

Wicker announced he would introduce a Senate resolution calling on members to meet the five percent cut.  Earlier in the day, the House of Representatives passed a rule to reduce its spending by a vote of 410-13.  In 2010, federal spending was nearly 24 percent of the value of all the goods and services produced in the United States. 

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