David Thomas: “it is an honor to join the chairman of the Budget Committee, Senator Domenici, in introducing legislation to create a…”

“it is an honor to join the chairman of the Budget Committee, Senator Domenici, in introducing legislation to create a 2-year budget and appropriations process. Senator Domenici has worked long and hard on this issue and I am hopeful that we can finally enact this commonsense reform this year. The current budget process is breaking down. Congress and the executive branch spend entirely too much time on budget issues. Since the most recent budget process reform in 1974, Congress has consistently failed to complete action on the Federal budget before the start of the fiscal year and, as a result, has increasingly relied on omnibus spending measures to fund the Federal Government. In fact, since 1977, Congress has passed over 60 continuing resolutions just to keep the Federal Government open. The budget resolution, reconciliation bill, and appropriations bills continue to become more time consuming. In the process, authorizing committees are being squeezed out of the schedule. There are too many votes on the same issues and too much duplication. In the end, this time could be better spent conducting vigorous oversight of Federal programs which currently go unchecked, exacerbating the Federal budget deficit. In response to these problems, last Congress I introduced legislation that would create a biennial budget process. I am pleased to continue this effort by joining Senator Domenici in offering this bill.”