Unaccountable Congress

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

A former two-term Republican representative for New York's Westchester County, DioGuardi blows the whistle on Congress for what he cites as grossly inept and deceitful fiscal practices. In a slim but meaty volume, he charges that congressional taxing, spending and guaranteeing combine with outrageous personal perks, deals and legal exemptions to endanger ``the very soul of American democracy.'' He cites and explains such gimmicks as off-budget scams (e.g. the disastrous S & L bailouts) and reconciliation bills so huge no one reads them before voting, by which the public's money is squandered. Suggesting that members of Congress use their plastic voting cards like credit cards tapping unlimited funds, DioGuardi contends that this attitude has boosted each taxpayer's share of the $3 trillion national debt to more than $31,000. He proposes several accounting and budget reform measures and advocates a the formation of nationwide citizens' budget-watching committees. (Apr.)