Instead of following the process outlined in the 1974 Budget Act, Congress has resorted to continuing resolutions, omnibus packages, and government shutdowns. The Constitution, however, grants to Congress (and the House of Representatives in particular) the power to tax and spend public money.

So what happens when Congress fails to utilize its “power of the purse”? Rep. Steve Womack (AR-3) discusses the deterioration of the federal budget process.

As always, the Federalist Society takes no particular legal or public policy positions. All opinions expressed are those of the speaker.

Learn more about Rep. Steve Womack:
https://womack.house.gov/biography/

Learn more about the Joint Select Committee on Budget & Appropriations Process Reform:
https://budgetappropriationsprocessreform.house.gov/about

 

Related Links & Differing Views:

Learn more about the Federalist Society’s Article I Initiative:
https://articleiinitiative.org/

National Priorities Project: “Budget Process: Federal Budget 101”
https://www.nationalpriorities.org/budget-basics/federal-budget-101/federal-budget-process/

United States House of Representatives: “Power of the Purse”
https://history.house.gov/institution/origins-development/power-of-the-purse/

Brookings: “What’s wrong with the congressional budget process?”
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/unpacked/2017/11/03/whats-wrong-with-the-congressional-budget-process/

American Enterprise Institute: “Three ideas for budget process reform”
http://www.aei.org/publication/three-ideas-for-budget-process-reform/

Center for American Progress: “Reflections on the Congressional Budget Act”
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/economy/reports/2018/10/26/459894/reflections-congressional-budget-act/

Washington Examiner: “Congress must reform its budget process, but not like this”
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/op-eds/congress-must-reform-its-budget-process-but-not-like-this

Convergence Center for Policy Resolution: “Building a Better Budget Process”
https://www.convergencepolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/B3P-Report-Final_4.18.18.pdf