ACP Platform Principles Summary

These are in no order of importance please check out the full platform plank for full details if more details are listed in following sections.

The Federal Budget- Americans must live within their means and so should the federal government.

The Federal Budget is incomprehensible to most Americans, and the reasons why it is this way are equally or more nebulous.  It should not be this way.  Like tax laws, federal finances should be easily understood by the Common Man, as was the desire of the Founders of this great nation.

We all live in the world where we must make-do with the money we have.  We have to make sure that we don't overspend, and that we get a certain level of value when we spend our hard-earned money on products and services.  When we overspend, we are charged a penalty for each infraction (usually twice).  We cannot just go ask for more money or incur even more fees and debt than we have already.  Why should the federal government live by different rules than the ordinary American?

1. Therefore, the ACP proposes that a comprehensive audit and evaluation of all federal spending and income be completed before any new programs are initiated.  This should be done with a non-governmental accounting agency which will objectively assess the cost-benefit ratio of each current federal program. The non-governmental agency will consult and work with the Congressional Budget Office and any appropriate Federal Budget organizations.

2. Ineffective or inefficient programs will be discontinued.  Contracts whose terms are not being met to the government's satisfaction will be reassessed and the contractors will be given the opportunity to meet the terms of the contract.  If the terms are not being met in a timely fashion, the contracts will be cancelled and re-bid.

3. Reinstitution of the PAYGO requirements for the federal budget. (Pay for what you start, for new any new programs)

End of No Bid Contracting:

The ACP supports the end of no bid contracting. This would allow the government to strictly maintain budgetary controls over government contracts and save taxpayers money. This would help to eliminate “cronyism” in the government contracting business. This would make the bidding of government a more fair process to all involved.

Common Sense Budget:

The ACP supports the Common Sense Budget Act of 2007.

1. This would cut the Pentagon’s budget by 15 percent.

2. With the $60 billion saved from the cut the US could:
• Provide health insurance to 9 million American kids who lack it

• Rebuild or modernize our public schools over 12 years

• Retrain a quarter million workers

• Cut our reliance on foreign oil in half over 10 years

• Invest wisely in Homeland Security by inspecting cargo containers entering our ports

* Many military experts agree that the United States could easily cut this money from the Pentagon and still spend much more than any other nation on defense and still be able to defend the US and meet the current threats in the world.*

For more info check out-http://www.sensiblepriorities.org/