Boehner-led cost-cutting saving millions in the House

Susan Davis | USATODAY

Correction: An earlier version of this story failed to note that the U.S. Capitol Police budget has been affected by government-wide spending cuts. Capitol Police spokesman Shennell Antrobus said the force's budget has been reduced by $18.8 million in fiscal 2013.

WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives will spend 15% less on its own operations this year than it did three years ago under a cost-cutting effort launched by Speaker John Boehner that is on pace to save taxpayers more than $400 million by the end of this year

When Republicans took control of the House in January 2011, Boehner, the new speaker, said cutting House spending would be a priority.

Since then, House lawmakers have seen a nearly 20% decrease in their office budgets. Three years ago, the average lawmaker had an annual $1.5 million budget, which is down to $1.2 million. Those budgets — which vary by office — cover everything from staff salaries to district office rent and bottled water.

The cuts trimmed $58 million from House costs in fiscal year 2011, $143 million in fiscal year 2012, and are on track to save $205 million through fiscal year 2013 when the across-the-board government spending cuts known as sequestration are factored in to the savings, according to Boehner's office.

The operating budget for the House in 2010 was $1.37 billion; that number has been shaved to $1.16 billion for 2013.

Lawmakers' salaries and pensions have long been exempted from the budget ax, but the costs of running the 435-member chamber have not been subjected to significant cuts since the mid-1990s.

"Believe me, I am totally aware that there is no sympathy for members of Congress. However, I think we should lead by example," said Rep. Candice Miller, R-Mich., a Detroit-area congresswoman who chairs the committee that oversees internal budget cuts.

Leading Democrats have chafed at the belt tightening, arguing it undermines adequate personnel resources for research and oversight. "We are past the point of cutting what we want, and we are now into cutting what we need — our ability to attract and retain expert staff," said Rep. Robert Brady, D-Pa., in opposition to further committee cuts approved in March.

Complaints have fallen on a deaf ear in the speaker's office. "Many Americans are doing more with less, and it's only right that we do the same in the House," the Ohio Republican told USA TODAY.

Committee budgets, which vary based on size and merit, have also been trimmed. The Natural Resources Committee, for example, operated on $8.4 million annually in 2010 while this year's budget is $6.5 million, a 22.35% cut.

The Senate is subject to the sequester cuts which affect office and committee budgets, but the Democratic-controlled chamber has not self-inflicted comparable operational cuts.

The cuts force lawmakers to find new ways to save. Miller canceled a cleaning service for her district office — a $4,000 decision her employees supported when they were informed it was that or furloughs. Miller's message: "This is what a Swiffer looks like."

Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., directs staff to fly in to Baltimore's airport instead of Washington's Reagan airport because direct flights from Charlotte are cheaper. Rep. Gregg Harper, R-Miss., cut back on rental cars and online ad spending. Even Boehner has cut back on subscriptions and spent less on events, including the St. Patrick's Day lunch the speaker hosts each year. "It forces you to think about ways you can save money," Miller said.

It's also forcing tougher choices on where to spend money. The U.S. Capitol Police budget hasn't faced GOP-inflicted cuts—although the police force has been impacted by the sequester to the tune of $18.8 million this year--and Boehner has pledged that none of the Capitol complex will be closed to the public because of sequester cuts. The White House has cut public tours, citing the cuts.

Democrats have chafed at Boehner's decision to spend as much as $3 million in taxpayer funds so the U.S. House can mount a legal defense of the Defense of Marriage Act — which prohibits gay marriage — while staffers are forced to go without pay. For example, about 17 Democratic aides employed by the House Administration Committee face up to 19 days of furlough, according to staff director Jamie Fleet.

Lawmakers approved a spending bill that includes $61.2 million to repair the crumbling U.S. Capitol dome, and Miller said her committee is working on how to budget for an overhaul of the Cannon House Office Building in 2015, a costly project that is likely to take ten years to complete. "You know what? This is the new normal as far as I'm concerned because it's not like next year there's going to be a whole bunch more money," Miller said.