Graves Votes to Put an End to Government Abuse

House passes package of bills aimed at reining in government excess

WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) today voted in favor of the Stop Government Abuse Act (H.R. 2879), reform-minded legislation that responds to a variety of federal government missteps, scandals, and excesses, such as the targeting of conservative organizations by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

"It's clear that Washington has gotten too big, too bloated, and too intrusive in our everyday lives," said Congressman Graves. "It's time to rein in excess, punish abuse, hold bureaucrats accountable, and restore the faith and trust of the American people."

One section of the Stop Government Abuse Act allows federal agencies to place employees on unpaid leave when they are under investigation for certain serious offenses. Currently, agencies must generally place such employees on paid leave. Another title of the bill prohibits federal employee bonuses for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2013 while also capping bonuses through FY 2015 at 5% of an employee's salary.

"While the American people continue to cut back on their own spending and do more with less, Washington bureaucrats have received more than $1.2 billion in bonuses since 2010. At the same time, people like Lois Lerner continue to receive a salary while she's been taken off her job at the IRS. Something is very wrong with this picture, and this bill will help change the culture," Graves said.

The legislation was passed as a part of Stop Government Abuse Week, during which a package of other bills were unanimously approved by the House. Those include bills to:

· Establish customer service standards at federal agencies;

· Limit the ability of agencies to spend taxpayer dollars on federal conferences, and increase transparency in reporting on those conferences;

· Prohibit spending by the IRS on any conferences until the recommendations from the Inspector General's as part of the political targeting inquiry are implemented; and

· Allow the IRS head to fire employees who engage in political targeting.

The House will also vote tomorrow on the REINS Act (H.R. 367), to require that any rule or regulation with an economic impact of at least $100 million receive a vote in the United States Congress; and the Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act (H.R. 2009), which prohibits the IRS from enforcing or implementing any provisions of the Affordable Care Act, President Obama's health care law.

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