Milwaukee City Wire

In an op-ed published by the Wall Street Journal, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson and U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher have outlined the necessary steps Congress should take to address the ongoing issue of last-minute massive spending bills that burden future generations. The lawmakers argue that it is time to repeal and replace the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, which has failed to bring fiscal sanity.

One of the key points made by Johnson and Gallagher is the need to end government shutdowns. They highlight the success of this approach in their home state of Wisconsin, where legislative dysfunction does not result in shutting down government operations. Instead, operations continue at the previous year's spending levels until new appropriations are passed. The lawmakers emphasize the common-sense nature of this approach and urge Congress to pass proposals that would permanently end federal government shutdowns.

Another solution proposed by Johnson and Gallagher is the adoption of biennial budgeting. They note that many states already use a two-year budget cycle, which allows for more time to pass appropriations bills individually and conduct effective oversight. By aligning the federal government's fiscal year with the calendar year, Congress would have an additional three months to pass appropriations bills. This change would provide lawmakers with greater scrutiny over each account and ensure more efficient budgeting.

The third idea put forward by the lawmakers is the consolidation of committee jurisdiction. They argue that when multiple committees claim jurisdiction over the same departments, agencies, and legislation, it creates overlap and dysfunction. Johnson and Gallagher suggest aligning full standing committees with functions and departments within the executive branch. They also propose the dissolution of appropriations committees and the transfer of their duties to subcommittees under properly aligned authorizing committees. This restructuring would improve efficiency and ensure adequate oversight.

Johnson and Gallagher stress the urgency of addressing the appropriations process. They highlight the chaos surrounding the fiscal 2024 appropriations and the subsequent removal of the House speaker by some Republicans. However, they emphasize that changing the process is more important than changing who holds the speaker's position. By committing to repeal and replace the Congressional Budget Act, Republican lawmakers can provide a path to future fiscal sanity and avoid further chaos.

The lawmakers conclude by emphasizing the need to rein in the federal government's size. They argue that until the appropriations process is under control, achieving this goal will be impossible. Repealing and replacing the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 is seen as the essential first step towards bringing order and fiscal responsibility to the appropriations process.

In summary, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson and U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher have called for the repeal and replacement of the 1974 Budget Law. They propose three common-sense solutions: ending government shutdowns, moving to biennial budgeting, and consolidating committee jurisdiction. The lawmakers argue that these measures are necessary to bring fiscal sanity and efficiency to the appropriations process, ensuring a brighter future for the country.

For additional details, please follow this link: https://www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/2023/10/sen-johnson-and-rep-gallagher-for-the-wall-street-journal-repeal-the-1974-budget-law-that-fuels-the-shutdown-cycle