Hearing of the Committee on Rules
"Biennial Budgeting: A Tool for Improving Government Fiscal Management and Oversight"
Member of the Committee on Rules
Thank you Mr. Chairman. I'm pleased the Committee is holding this very timely hearing. As a former state legislator in and legislative leader in New York, a state that conducts annual budgeting, I experienced the yearly frustration with the budget process long before coming to Congress. New York's budget annually ties-up the state legislature for months at a time, holding all other legislation virtually hostage.
That background, combined with my first experience with the federal budget last year as a freshman Member of Congress, has convinced me more than ever that biennial budgeting is one of the best alternatives available to improving the federal budget process.
A biennial budget would allow Congress to more carefully and deliberately sort through all of the funding priorities and obligations – but to do so once during a Congress.
That would allow the second session to focus on equally important concerns that unfortunately, because of our current budget process, often fall by the wayside: such as government oversight, reform and management.
I look forward to the testimony of Speaker Hastert and my other Colleagues in the House. Thank you Mr. Chairman.