AMARILLO, TEXAS -- Saving over a billion dollars in taxpayer money sounds too good to be true. But U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry has proposed a bill that would do just that.
Last week, Thornberry proposed an idea on youcut.gov. It's a website where with just a click of your mouse or text message, you can tell Washington what cuts you want to see the House bring to the floor and make official.
Thornberry's proposal would cut federal subsidies for first-class sleeper car service on Amtrak. Cutting that has the potential to save $1.2 billion in taxpayer dollars.
"For the taxpayers to subside that 16% of the passengers with this, you know, elaborate service I think is just wrong, especially when our kids have enough debt to pay as it is," said Thornberry.
Thornberry's amendment was supposed to have been up for a vote Thursday but Republicans didn't get enough votes to be able to do that.
In the meantime, President Barack Obama signed into law legislation designed to slim down wasteful government programs and curb fraud in federal spending.
