On the recordMarch 7, 2011
I rise today to express my support for instituting biennial budgeting within the U.S. Government. We should reform the Federal budget process by converting it from an annual spending process to a 2-year cycle, with 1 year for appropriating Federal dollars and the following year devoted to oversight of Federal programs. Under the current budget process, Congress almost never finishes the appropriations bills by October 1 and is forced to consider omnibus legislation composed of individual appropriations bills that were never considered on the Senate floor. Worse still is that we are often unable to amend an omnibus appropriations bill and are forced to accept provisions that may be objectionable. Because we are constantly racing against the clock to finish appropriations, authorizing committees are hampered in their ability to conduct effective oversight. This means that we have trouble learning about what spending programs work and which must be modified or eliminated. Budget reforms are much needed and long overdue. The amendment that I filed today would require the President to submit a 2-year budget at the beginning of the first session of a Congress.
