David Price: “the budget conflicts and frustrations of the last 3 years have prompted various proposed procedural fixes for what is…”

“the budget conflicts and frustrations of the last 3 years have prompted various proposed procedural fixes for what is mainly a failure of political will and responsibility. In my view, the most misguided of these proposals is the amendment before us, instituting biennial budgeting and appropriating. This supposed remedy is not only unresponsive to the problem we face, but it actually would weaken Congress' power of the purse and its ability to hold the Executive Branch accountable. I would like to remind my colleagues that Congress already has the authority to adopt multiyear budget plans and multiyear authorizations. These have been important instruments in achieving advance planning and fiscal discipline. But to go beyond this to biennial budgeting and appropriating would greatly weaken Congress' hand in shaping national priorities and holding the Executive Branch accountable. In fact, annual appropriating is necessary as a complement to multiyear budget plans, to ensure flexibility, responsiveness, and coequal power with the executive. Under biennial budgeting, Congress would not be able to react as effectively to congressional oversight, GAO reports, Inspector General's reports, research studies, and other findings that bear on the effectiveness of Federal programs.”