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Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Richard Hanna (R,C,I-Barneveld) highlighted a report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Monday, which points to federal programs that could be consolidated or eliminated to save taxpayer money.

Hanna joined with Congressman Bill Owens from New York’s 23rd Congressional District and sent a letter to President Barack Obama requesting his Administration compile a list of federal programs that could be eliminated based on duplication, overlap or fragmentation of services.

“In reviewing programs that could be consolidated or eliminated, we can ensure taxpayers that the federal government is working to streamline operations and avoid waste,” Hanna said. “It’s our duty to analyze areas where savings can be realized in an effort to get our nation’s fiscal house in order. Steps like this will help prevent our children from a future of unconquerable debt.”

Hanna and Owens said in their letter to President Obama that they look forward to working in a bipartisan manner to reform programs that are duplicated elsewhere and eliminate those that are not needed and therefore unaffordable.

Specifically, Hanna and Owens wrote to the President:

“We know that in Upstate New York families, regardless of political affiliation or economic station, are tightening their belts and differentiating ‘wants’ from ‘needs’ in their budgets. They deserve a federal government that does the same so that all of our children may realize a future unburdened by unconquerable debt.

“The GAO report offers both chambers of Congress and your Administration a ripe opportunity to realize savings that will further our duty to get our nation’s fiscal house in order. To that end, we respectfully ask that your Administration report to Congress on those programs listed in the report, or any others, which it believes we can clearly live without during these difficult fiscal times. This communication will help ensure that we may work in a bipartisan and cooperative manner to reform or eliminate programs that are unneeded and thus unaffordable.”

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