State Rep. Steve Carra (R-Three Rivers) introduced legislation on Thursday to enhance accountability for government spending and services. The national debt has eclipsed $38 Trillion, and federal lawmakers need to take this dire fiscal cliff more seriously, Carra said.

Carra’s legislation, named “The Federal Elected Officials Accountability Act,” would create an office to serve as a watchdog for fiscal responsibility and hold Congress accountable for votes that add to America’s climbing debt. Under this act, every federal spending bill would be tracked. Specifically, the amount of money appropriated and how each elected official votes on spending bills would be documented and made publicly available on a website. If the federal government continues deficit spending, elected officials from Michigan serving at the federal level who voted in support of this practice would be assessed a two-year surcharge equivalent to 75% of the member’s taxable income.

“Our government in Washington has failed miserably in attempts to balance the national budget. It’s past time for elected officials to be held accountable for their decisions with taxpayer money,” said Carra. “Deficit spending is not just fiscally irresponsible, it’s morally reprehensible. We have the reserve currency of the world, affording our country the ability to throw caution to the wind when it comes to spending money wisely, but this may not be the case for much longer.”

House Bill 5300 was referred to the House Committee on Government Operations for consideration.

Please direct all media inquiries to stevecarra@house.mi.gov