![]() ![]() Importantly, a budget forces lawmakers to delineate between “needs” and “wants”-to reflect on what our national priorities should be and how to fund them, and then reveal that information to the voting public. Just like prudent households draft family budgets that contemplate future income and necessary expenses for the year, so too should a prudent federal government. (1) A budget resolution is an important financial planning tool. Unfortunately, neither the Republican-controlled House nor the Democrat-controlled Senate seem interested in completing this most basic function soon, if at all.Īsk any lawmaker in Washington and they will give you a million reasons not to do a budget resolution, some self-inflicted: The legislative process is onerous and time-consuming (especially in the Senate) members must cast politically perilous votes on partisan “messaging” amendments that have zero policy effect but provide ample fodder for campaign attack ads a budget resolution does not have the force of law (it is a planning document, not statute), so it’s spending limits often are violated before the ink is barely dry and legislators don’t want to endorse the debt and deficit numbers associated with their party’s vision for federal fiscal policy.īut as Indira Gandhi once said, “Nothing worthwhile is ever easy.” Despite our divided government and lack of common ground between the two parties, here are five reasons the House and Senate should adhere to the budget process and work to adopt a concurrent resolution on the budget: A key deadline in the annual Congressional budget process is fast approaching: the April 15 th deadline for Congress to adopt its annual budget resolution. ![]()
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