99-812 O Printed for the use of the Committee on the Budget U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1983 Bellmon, Hon. Henry, cochairman, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, and a former U.S. Senator from the State of Oklahoma.. Biden, Hon. Joseph R. Jr., a U.S. Senator from the State of Delaware...... by Author J. Corazzini and Kenneth Hunter....... Bumpers, Hon. Dale, a U.S. Senator from the State of Arkansas.. Chiles, Hon. Lawton, a U.S. Senator from the State of Florida Ford, Hon. Wendell H., a U.S. Senator for the State of Kentucky. Giaimo, Hon. Robert N., cochairman, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, and a former Congressman from the State of Connecticut............ Gross, George, director of Federal relations, National League of Cities........... McEvoy, John T., chairman, Department of Federal Policy, law firm of 278 142 Penner, Rudolph G., American Enterprise Institute 97 Percy, Hon. Charles H., a U.S. Senator from the State of Illinois, and chair- 208 Two-Year Budget Process (with enclosure): George Gross, National 696 Letters-Continued National Budget Procedures (with enclosure): Joseph A. Pechman, The Page 429 CBO Comments on S. 2921: Alice Rivlin to Senator Chiles. 775 Papers: The Congressional Budget Process: Review, Assessment, and Suggestions for Change, by George Gross... 699 Questions and Answers-Committee questions to witnesses, written: Franklin Jones, former counsel to the Senate Budget Committee.... 373 Ferd Harrison, president, National League of Cities 376 379 387 ............... PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1982 U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET, Washington, D.C. The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 9:53 a.m., in room 6202, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. Pete V. Domenici, chairman of the committee, presiding. Present: Senators Domenici, Kassebaum, Boschwitz, Grassley, Gorton, Hollings, and Exon. Staff present: Robert Fulton, chief counsel; Nell Payne, staff attorney; and Lizabeth Tankersley, minority staff director. Chairman DOMENICI. The hearing will please come to order. OPENING STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN DOMENICI Today, we begin an examination of possible improvements in the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Act of 1974. This process is one of the most important processes for our Nation's Government. For purposes of today's hearings, the budget process should be distinguished from taxwriting and the authorization and the appropriation process. The budget process was created 8 years ago after a very lengthy, thoughtful, and painstaking analysis of ways in which Congress could better discharge its fiscal responsibilities. The design of the budget process as spelled out in the act has remained essentially unchanged since that act was adopted in 1974. Our purpose today and in four additional hearing sessions later this month is to consider how the Budget Act has worked and in what ways it might be improved. It is appropriate that these hearings be held now. We have had 2 years in which unprecedented policy changes have been accomplished through this budget process. We should examine the process in light of the specific experience of the past 2 years. Also, the Senate, on August 4, approved Senate Joint Resolution 58, the balanced budget constitutional amendment. If this amendment is endorsed by the House and ratified by the requisite number of States, it will have profound effects on the budget proc ess. It is my opinion that we should begin now to look at the implications and identify transition arrangements that would prepare Congress for that eventuality. |