Federal Budget Process Reform in the 110th Congress: A Brief Overview

Publication Date: July 2007

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Government

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Abstract:

In 2007, during the first session of the 110th Congress, the House and Senate face a wide array of budget process reform proposals, pertaining to such matters as restoration of the statutory discretionary spending limits and PAYGO requirement; internal PAYGO rules in the House and Senate; earmarking; and modifications to the budget resolution, reconciliation, and appropriations processes.

The House and Senate may pursue budget process reform in various ways, including modifications to each chamber's rules and practices, the enactment of freestanding legislation, or the inclusion of budget process changes in other budgetary legislation, such as an annual appropriations act or a reconciliation or debtlimit measure. This report provides a context for congressional actions in this area and briefly discusses selected actions or proposals to illustrate the diversity of issues involved.

On January 5, 2007, the House completed action on its rules package for the 110 Congress, H.Res. 6. Title IV of the measure included several budget process changes dealing with such matters as earmark reform, restrictions on the reconciliation process, and the establishment of a PAYGO rule for the House.