To give the American economy a boost, we need a clear and simple budgeting process that lets Congress get Washington’s finances in shape. Drafting, debating, and passing a federal budget is no easy task, and it’s definitely not something a few people can handle on their own.
Openness is key. The free movement of ideas, resources, and people generates knowledge, innovation, and opportunity, fueling progress throughout society. A transparent budgeting process would embody this principle, allowing for the flow of information and collaboration necessary to tackle complex financial issues.
The Constitution says that Congress holds the power of the purse. That means the people closest to us should decide how we’re taxed and how our money is spent. Creating the federal budget is Congress’s most important job. It funds the government’s basic operations and sets its priorities, so it should be done responsibly and orderly.
Our nonsensical budget process, explained
Unfortunately, our current budget process is a mess. Every year, legislators scramble to pass 12 bills to fund 26% of the federal government’s spending. When they don’t manage to do this, which is often, the government either shuts down or lawmakers rush to approve massive omnibus bills, in which lawmakers have little say in the process and are usually compelled to vote without even knowing what’s in the bills.
On top of that, most federal spending (74% to be accurate) is on autopilot without any discussion in Congress. The twelve appropriations bills don’t address how to pay for all the expenses either.
This chaotic process isn’t good for our country’s financial health. It’s a closed and partial system that prevents lawmakers from having a complete view of government spending.
By splitting only a quarter of the government’s expenses into 12 bills and ignoring the rest, representatives miss out on crucial information needed to create a solid budget. They don’t understand the total impact of their votes on government operations, nor do they talk about how to fund these expenses.
Plus, since Congress usually fails to pass all 12 appropriation bills on time, they tend to fund the government through huge omnibus bills, negotiated in secret by congressional leadership with little oversight from the full Congress.
This complicated process can’t handle the $35 trillion debt problem we face.
Comprehensive budget: The solution
A comprehensive budget would combine all federal government spending and revenue into one bill developed through deliberations in each committee that oversees those programs. This means including all 12 appropriations bills, mandatory spending bills, and revenue bills. It streamlines all budgeting into one coherent process.
This approach gives representatives an open, transparent, and bottom-up way to gather information and propose policies to tackle America’s massive national debt and other challenges. With a comprehensive budget, lawmakers can contribute to shape the annual budget bill both in committees and on the floor with a far better sense of the size and scope of the government’s expenditures.
Budget reform would also shift power back to lawmakers. Streamlining the budgeting process takes improper leverage out of the hands of congressional leaders and presidents and empowers all representatives to make decisions and propose policies in the budget. Embracing openness in this process will give Washington the tools they need to reduce government overspending, which was the main cause behind inflation
