The Reform Party recognizes that Federal and State (and local) government spending has grown disproportionately in relation to population and productivity. Over the past several decades, Federal spending as a share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has increased dramatically. Total Federal Outlays in 2000 were 17.7% of GDP; while in 2022, Federal Outlays were 25.1% of GDP. Outlays (spending) have exceeded Receipts (revenue) every year since 2002.^[1]

The scope of government must prioritize efficiency and effectiveness to avoid problems arising from an increasing spending-to-revenue ratio:

1. Government offices and programs should have sufficient but not excessive resources to perform their mission.
2. Oversight of a program should not interfere with the program’s mission (i.e., State and Federal education programs and regulations).
3. Mission overlap should be limited. For example, OSHA and EPA established a Memorandum of Understanding in 1991 to manage circumstances where their jurisdictions overlap.^[2]

The Reform Party will foster awareness of these concerns beginning with individual voters and extending to the leaders they elect.

References:

1. whitehouse.gov and cbo.gov
2. osha.gov