House Speaker Denny Hastert, R-Ill., Wednesday gave a strong endorsement to a proposal to produce budgets and appropriations bills in two-year cycles, a far reaching issue that is getting increased attention this year because of the House leadership's support.
Hastert, who testified before the House Rules Committee, said biennial budgeting would restore "regular order" to the budget process, which he said soaks up time from congressional leaders and the administration.
"The current budget process is broken," he said, "and we need to fix it."
By freeing up more time on the calendar, he said, biennial budgeting would allow Congress to focus more time on oversight of the federal government. "We need to restore the power and the purpose of the authorizing committees," he said. Hastert said biennial budgeting also would force Congress and the president to plan ahead to set aside funding for unanticipated events, such as natural disasters.
House Rules Chairman David Dreier, R-Calif., noted there was bipartisan support for reform of the budget process, and said reform could bring tremendous taxpayer savings as well.
But Rules ranking member Joseph Moakley, D-Mass., referring to the year-end budget crunches that are part of the impetus for reform, said, "No matter what deadline is set for the budget, we're always going to be up against it." And Rep. David Price, D-N.C., a member of the Appropriations and Budget panels, said ending the annual budget cycle would actually reduce Congress' most effective oversight role, while devolving congressional power to the executive branch.
House Budget Committee Chairman Kasich, who shares jurisdiction with Dreier over the issue, has indicated he would allow a biennial budgeting bill to move through his panel, and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Young offered testimony in support. Hastert, in his testimony, urged the Rules and Budget panels to work together and with the Senate in a bipartisan fashion, and "produce a biennial budget package for the House to consider."