Lance Returns $130K In Unspent Office Funds

7th District Lawmaker’s Good Stewardship Of Taxpayer Dollars Nets Nearly $1 million For Deficit Reduction Since 2009

WASHINGTON, DC — Continuing to make good on his promise to address the national debt, Congressman Leonard Lance (NJ-07) today announced he will be returning $130,000 from his 2017 congressional office budget to the U.S. Treasury for the purposes of deficit reduction.  Since coming to Congress in January of 2009, the Seventh District lawmaker has returned nearly one million dollars from his office operating budget.

“I manage my congressional office by finding the right balance between having the best possible constituent services at the most efficient cost.  My office has successfully closed over 5000 casework matters, hosted 90 in-person and telephone town hall events and held thousands of constituent meetings – all at the least possible expense to the taxpayers.  I will continue to be a voice for fiscal responsibility in Congress.  It is my hope that this effort will send an appropriate message to my constituents that fiscal responsibility begins at home,” said Lance.

Earlier this Congress, Lance opposed a measure in Congress to reinstate earmarks – the outlawed practice where lawmakers can direct public funds to pet projects in their districts across the country.  And Lance has said any vote to reinstate the practice needs to be public, not done behind closed doors.  Lance also stood up to those in his own party on tax and spending measures, opposing $1.5 trillion dollars in new debt related to the overhaul of the tax code.  Lance, a member of the Problem Solvers Caucus, was also in the center of ending the fiscally irresponsible government shutdowns.

“Members of Congress talk a big game about deficit reduction but too often not do not practice what they preach.  Lawmakers need first operate their own office budgets in a fiscally conservative manner.  I have made every effort to set this important example,” concluded Lance.