RSC Member Policy Actions

Washington, Oct 5, 2012 - Rep. Scott Tipton introduced the Survey Savings Accountability Act. This bill would save taxpayer dollars by prohibiting federal agencies from sending cash in mass communications, including surveys where cash is included for the benefit of the responder. Some federal agencies currently use this practice to entice responses to opinion surveys, including the Bureau of Reclamation, which in 2011 sent nearly $30,000 in cash in a survey about removing four dams in California and Oregon.

Rep. Tipton released the following statement:

"My mother always said, 'don't put cash in the mail—it could get lost, and you'll never see it again.' Washington could learn a thing or two from this common sense. First, sending cash in the mail with surveys is a blatant waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars. Second, enticing responders with cash to gather objective public opinion data raises questions about the quality of that data. Washington doesn't need to pay people to get a sense of public opinion on an issue. When Americans are passionate about something there is abundantly free feedback. Every dollar in savings counts, and we need to root out waste and abuse in Washington wherever possible, especially when it’s as blatant as sending taxpayer dollars in the mail with surveys."

###

Congressman Steve Scalise is Chairman of the Republican Study Committee (RSC).