US Rep. Mick Mulvaney returned more than $160,000 of his office budget for 2012. This accounted for approximately 12 percent of his budget, according to his office.

This figure is in addition to the 6.5 percent cut Congressional offices took in 2012, and the 5 percent cut in 2011.

Mulvaney released the following statement: “At a time when Americans are tightening their budgets, I have made an effort to do the same with my Congressional office budget. My office has found ways to save money while continuing to provide necessary services to the constituents of the Fifth District. As requested when I returned over $160,000 last year, I ask that Speaker Boehner use this money to pay down the national debt."