Federal Budget Process Reform: A Brief Overview

Publication Date: May 2005

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Government

Type:

Abstract:

In 2005, during the first session of the 109th 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, modifications to budget resolution, reconciliation, and appropriations processes, and item veto/expanded rescission authority for the President. 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 a reconciliation or debt-limit 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. The report will be updated.