Christopher Shays: “I strongly support H.R. 853, the Comprehensive Budget Process Reform Act. This bill represents the most fundamental…”

“I strongly support H.R. 853, the Comprehensive Budget Process Reform Act. This bill represents the most fundamental revision of the Congressional budget process since 1974. H.R. 853 contains a variety of critical reforms, including changing the Budget Resolution from a concurrent resolution to a joint resolution that would have to be presented to the president and therefore would have the force of law. This would improve the budget process in two ways. First, it would force the president to play a formal role in the budget process, rather than only engaging in the final stages of the appropriations process. Providing for formal executive participation through a joint resolution would avoid year-end scrambling to finance government programs. It would also encourage the president to submit a realistic budget because he will be compelled to defend it. Second, a joint resolution would force inter-branch agreement on aggregate spending levels prior to agreement on details. Currently, since the president does not have to approve the Budget Resolution, gaining approval on the final spending measures presents a greater challenge. Forcing an early agreement on the principles in the Resolution will make coming together on the details of budget bills much easier in the fall.”