Milwaukee City Wire

WASHINGTON– On Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) along with U.S. Sens. Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), and Mike Lee (R-Utah) have collectively called for a conference meeting to address the issues surrounding the current budget process.

In a letter addressed to Senate Republican Conference Chair John Barrasso, M.D. (R-Wyo.), the senators emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, "As we rush to finalize the 2024 FY budget – months after the fiscal year has started – we are already behind on the 2025 budget deadlines set in statute." This sentiment was echoed by the group, affirming that "Reform is needed and it is vital that we as a Conference debate how to get our budget process on track."

The senators requested a meeting to discuss potential reforms to improve the budget process, highlighting the necessity for prompt action. The letter, dated March 20, 2024, urged Senator Barrasso to convene the conference during the week of April 8th to address these critical issues.

The call for reform comes as a response to the current challenges and delays in the budget process, signaling a unified effort among the senators to address the shortcomings and work towards establishing a more efficient and effective budget framework for the future.