If Illinois Members of Congress had their way, how much would government spending increase or decrease?

by Kristina Rasmussen If Illinois Members of Congress had their way, how much would government spending increase or decrease? The National Taxpayers Union Foundation keeps a running tally of each Congressman’s net spending agendas as measured by their bill co-sponsorships. Last week I asked them to share preliminary data on the spending agendas of members of the Illinois...

by Kristina Rasmussen

If Illinois Members of Congress had their way, how much would government spending increase or decrease?

The National Taxpayers Union Foundation keeps a running tally of each Congressman’s net spending agendas as measured by their bill co-sponsorships. Last week I asked them to share preliminary data on the spending agendas of members of the Illinois delegation for the 112th Congress, and they graciously obliged.

All Republicans in Illinois’s congressional delegation would make net decreases to spending with the bills they’ve co-sponsored thus far. All Democrats would make net increases to spending with the bills they’ve co-sponsored. Surprise, surprise.

Rep. Walsh has the largest “net decrease” agenda so far (cutting spending by $188 billion/year). Rep. Jackson had the largest “net increase” agenda (increasing spending by $1.3 trillion/year).

Take a peek at the results.

Preliminary Net Spending Agendas for Illinois’s Congressional Delegation 
(112th Congress, Republicans in bold, as of September 21, 2011) 

• Rep. Biggert sponsored legislation that would cut spending by an average of $35.9 billion per year over the next five years.
• Rep. Costello sponsored legislation that would increase spending by an average of $12.8 billion per year over the next five years.
• Rep. Davis sponsored legislation that would increase spending by an average of $1.2 trillion per year over the next five years.
• Rep. Dold sponsored legislation that would cut spending by an average of $8.5 billion per year over the next five years.
• Rep. Gutierrez sponsored legislation that would increase spending by an average of $8.2 billion per year over the next five years.
• Rep. Hultgren legislation that would cut spending by an average of $32 billion per year over the next five years.
• Rep. Jackson legislation that would increase spending by an average of $1.3 trillion per year over the next five years.
• Rep. Johnson legislation that would cut spending by an average of $28.6 billion per year over the next five years.
• Rep. Kinzinger sponsored legislation that would cut spending by an average of $41.8 billion per year over the next five years.Rep.  Lipinski sponsored legislation that would increase spending by an average of $13.9 billion per year over the next five years.
• Rep. Manzullo sponsored legislation that would cut spending by an average of $39.6 billion per year over the next five years.
• Rep. Quigley sponsored legislation that would increase spending by an average of $1.8 billion per year over the next five years.
• Rep. Roskam sponsored legislation that would cut spending by an average of $44.7 billion per year over the next five years.
• Rep. Rush sponsored legislation that would increase spending by an average of $1.2 trillion per year over the next five years.
• Rep. Schakowsky sponsored legislation that would increase spending by an average of $1.2 trillion per year over the next five years.
• Rep. Schilling sponsored legislation that would cut spending by an average of $30.9 billion per year over the next five years.
• Rep. Schock sponsored legislation that would cut spending by an average of $42.4 billion per year over the next five years.
• Rep. Shimkus sponsored legislation that would cut spending by an average of $30.6 billion per year over the next five years.
• Rep. Walsh sponsored legislation that would cut spending by an average of $188 billion per year over the next five years.

There’s still time to co-sponsor some spending cut bills, folks!