Press Releases

Rep. Louie Gohmert (TX-01) released the following statement today regarding the passage of The Baseline Reform Act, which he spearheaded in the House of Representatives:

“Since my first term in 2005, I have been pushing to end the automatic increases in every federal department’s budget. Having filed the Zero Baseline Budget bill in each term of Congress since I’ve been here, I am gratified to have it passed out of the Budget Committee and brought to the floor for its bi-partisan passage today. Responsible friends who are Democrats understand that we cannot continue to overburden future generations with our own debt as we have been automatically increasing every federal budget for decades. 

I do not know any person, family, business or charity that has an automatic increase in their annual budget and the government certainly should not either. This bill requires that a cut will be a cut and not simply a slowing of the rate of growth. 

It is a bit humbling to have House friends like Chairman Paul Ryan and Congressman Rob Woodall credit me with authorship and the relentless pursuit of getting this passed. They have both been outstanding in shepherding this bill to passage, and I am very grateful.

Now, we must make sure the Senate feels the heat to stop the automatic government bloating as well. The idea for this common sense measure came when I was a judge in Tyler and heard Rush Limbaugh during a lunch recess mention the federal government had annual automatic increases. I didn't know at the time I would be in a position to help make it happen.

It is inexcusable for the federal government to say ‘we simply cannot tighten our belts’ when government overreach has caused so much pain to so many others. The Baseline Reform Act will put the government in the same position as all Americans. This is also an important step toward a balanced budget.”

Congressman Louie Gohmert is the Vice Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security. Prior to being elected to serve in Congress, Louie was elected to three terms as District Judge in Smith County, Texas and also served as Chief Justice of Texas'12th Court of Appeals.

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