From the Grand Forks Hearld

Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D., and a bipartisan group in the U.S. House of Representatives have introduced a bill that would make Congress a little more paperless and save taxpayers as much as $2.2 million this year, he said Friday.

In a statement from Pomeroy’s office, he said H.R. 4640, or the Stop the Overprinting (STOP) Act, would change congressional rules that now require all members to receive multiple printed copies of bills they introduce. If passed, members would get paper copies only if they request them.

The bill was sponsored and introduced Feb. 22 by Rep. Chris Lee, R-N.Y. It had 36 co-sponsors, including Reps. Pomeroy and Erik Paulsen, R-Minn.

“The federal budget deficit is a real concern, and we must get spending under control,” Pomeroy’s statement said.

“When compared with the total deficit, this $2.2 million in savings is a small step toward a balanced budget. But if we are going to get our budget under control, we need a sustained, bipartisan focus on trimming wasteful spending wherever we can. I believe this is another important step in that direction.”