GovernmentExecutive.com

December 8, 1999

CAMPAIGN 2000

McCain: I would shut down government

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., on the campaign trail in New Hampshire this week, said if he were elected president he would shut down the government if that's what it would take to reduce pork barrel spending, the Manchester, N.H. Union Leader reported Tuesday.

McCain said he would veto any legislation that included spending motivated by special interests, even if vetoing the legislation would lead to a government shutdown.

For a decade, McCain has had his staff pore through annual appropriations legislation to identify pork barrel spending, which he defines as either unauthorized appropriations, unrequested locality-specific earmarks, budget add-ons that would be subject to a budget point of order, transfer or disposal of federal property or items under terms that circumvent existing law and new items added in conference that were never considered in either bill in either House.

For example, McCain identified $14 billion in pork barrel spending in the final, consolidated $385 billion approprations bill for fiscal 2000, passed by Congress last month.

In other news, McCain on Tuesday called for the elimination of federal income taxes for overseas military personnel, and a 9 percent pay raise over three years for servicemembers.

"If I am the next President, I will end the days of a foodstamp Army once and for all," said McCain.