Republican Moderates and Conservative Democrats Urge Tougher Budget Rules

Why are we making such a big fuss about arcane budget rules?

Because they make an enormous difference in U.S. fiscal policy.

Without pay-as-you-go rules, Congress can pass huge tax cuts or spending increases -- without any offsetting tax increases or spending cuts -- with a simple majority vote, and no opportunity for opponents to "filibuster" or stall the process.

The budget was not supposed to be this way. But in recent years, Congress has actually used budget "reconciliation" rules -- which expedite the process and disallow stalling techniques -- to make the budget worse, by passing tax cuts and spending increases that are not "paid for."

The only way to slow down the process, and force Congress to make sure its initiatives are paid for, is to reestablish a "pay-as-you-go" rule. The pay-as-you-go rule requires bills that would increase the budget deficit to clear an extra procedural hurdle, and a supermajority vote.

With the budget deficit continuing to worsen, members of Congress on both sides of the aisle are clamoring for a return to pay-as-you-go.

Here is a link to a letter signed by 11 House Republicans and 11 House Democrats urging budget negotiators to re-establish the rule.

Links:
Moderate Republican/Conservative Democrat Letter to Budget Conferees (March 31, 2004)

Blue Dog Motion to Instruct Conferees (March 30, 2004)

Centrists.Org A "Duck The Issues" Budget -- Interpreting the Congressional Budget for 2005 (March 19, 2004)

Centrist Policy Network Blue Dog Conservative Democrats' Budget Enforcement Proposal (March 10, 2004)

Centrist Policy Network Republican Moderates' "Main Street" Budget Principles (March 10, 2004)

Posted by Jeff Lemieux at March 31, 2004 03:09 PM