Thanks for the very constructive analysis of remedies to the problem of executive discretionary impacts on federal spending. It is hard to see Congress giving any of these serious consideration. The enormous amounts of executive budgetary discretion that has evolved over the last 30-40 years has contributed greatly to the extremely partisan nature of our Congress. When you can spend as a party how and where you want without the full authority of Congress then you break the need to work across the aisle on nonpartisan spending measures. Only by eliminating or very sharply restricting executive budgetary authority will you force Congress back to passing bipartisan budget appropriations!
Thank you for your thoughtful comment. I agree that the expansion of executive discretionary spending has undermined the legislative process and contributed to greater partisanship. As you pointed out, curbing executive budgetary authority is essential to restoring Congress's power of the purse and encouraging bipartisan cooperation on fiscal matters. Reforms aimed at reinforcing the need for congressional approval in spending decisions are critical to achieving a more accountable and functional budgetary process. The House Budget Committee just favorably reported out the Executive Action Cost Transparency Act. One step further!
Thanks for the very constructive analysis of remedies to the problem of executive discretionary impacts on federal spending. It is hard to see Congress giving any of these serious consideration. The enormous amounts of executive budgetary discretion that has evolved over the last 30-40 years has contributed greatly to the extremely partisan nature of our Congress. When you can spend as a party how and where you want without the full authority of Congress then you break the need to work across the aisle on nonpartisan spending measures. Only by eliminating or very sharply restricting executive budgetary authority will you force Congress back to passing bipartisan budget appropriations!
Thank you for your thoughtful comment. I agree that the expansion of executive discretionary spending has undermined the legislative process and contributed to greater partisanship. As you pointed out, curbing executive budgetary authority is essential to restoring Congress's power of the purse and encouraging bipartisan cooperation on fiscal matters. Reforms aimed at reinforcing the need for congressional approval in spending decisions are critical to achieving a more accountable and functional budgetary process. The House Budget Committee just favorably reported out the Executive Action Cost Transparency Act. One step further!
You should “consider” removing watered down language like “Congress should consider”, and just state your common sense change suggestions explicitly.
It is quite easy to game your suggestions as written. “Congress” can simply state - even truthfully - that it *has* considered your proposals!