Office funds returned to pay down U.S. debt

It is only $1.435 million and a drop in the bucket of a $15.3 trillion national debt, but the action, spearheaded by Rep. Jeff Landry, R-New Iberia, and backed by seven other Republican freshman congressmen is being viewed as more than a symbolic gesture. It is an attention getter on Capitol Hill.

Last Wednesday, Landry along with Reps. Jeff Duncan of South Carolina, Tim Huelskamp of Kansas, Raúl Labrador of Idaho, Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina, Steve Southerland of Florida, Joe Walsh of Illinois and Kevin Yoder of Kansas sent a letter to House Speaker John Boehner requesting that Congress accept donated portions of their returned office funds to help pay down the national debt.

“As freshmen, we came to Congress promising to reduce red tape and eliminate Washington accounting gimmicks n ideals we know you share,” the letter said. “We believe immediately transferring our unused [Members Representational Allowance] to debt relief demonstrated that we continue to focus on these principles and represents a stark contrast to President Obama’s continued efforts to increase federal spending.”

Each year members of Congress are offered a MRA to fund their offices and cover costs including everything from rent to coffee for staff members. MRA allocations can range between $1.3 million and $1.6 million for an individual representative depending on personnel, office expenses and mail costs. The average MRA is $1,446,009.

Landry explained that he and the group of conservative congressmen with whom he has aligned himself, are returning the unused portions of MRA’s dating back to the beginning of 2011.

The Louisiana representative is returning more than $160,000 from his allocated MRA, more than 11 percent of what he was allocated. Approximate fund levels for the remaining seven members of this joint-statement group include Duncan with $200,000; Huelskamp $142,000; Labrador $300,000; Mulvaney $160,000; Southerland $233,000; Walsh $200,000 and Yoder at $120,000.

“I voted against the disastrous Washington debt [ceiling] deal and the fail[ed] Super Committee,” Landry said. “My colleagues, members of the freshman class, have been stewards of the taxpayers’ money when it comes to office spending; so much so that we are returning nearly $1.5 million to protect the taxpayers.”

The group of congressmen held a news conference on the Capitol building steps to announce their decision and encourage other elected officials from both parties to join the action.

“Because we are honored to serve our constituents in the U.S. Congress, we are called to lead by example,” Labrador said. “It is my hope that many more of my colleagues will join us in our effort to pay down our national debt and restore the American Dream for generations to come.”

On Thursday, Boehner spokesman Michael Steel acknowledged the joint letter and the speaker’s response. “Boehner applauds these members’ commitment to cutting government spending and reducing the deficit,” Steel said. “He returns money from his Congressional office budget every year.”

Steel did not have an exact number on how much Boehner has returned to date, but noted that overall the House has already reduced its budget by 10 percent this year. Boehner may also consider the introduction of legislation in response to the letter from Landry and colleagues.

“When I sent a letter to Speaker Boehner encouraging him to direct [the money] in cost savings from my office to pay down our national debt, I did so with the understanding that this act alone will not solve our debt crisis,” Southerland said. “However, Congress must continue to take these important small steps before we can spring back to economic certainty.”

Landry said he would like to see this action followed by other members of Congress doing the same. “Instead of just doing what Washington politicians would do n issue a press release, pat themselves on the back and tell their constituents how great they are n today, we are calling on the Speaker to immediately use these funds to pay down our national debt,” he said.