Fiscal restraint dies
House leadership is trying to put the last nail in the coffin of the Budget Control Act of 2011. This is about the last vestige of fiscal restraint left in the District of Columbia. This week, the House is expected to vote on a plan to raise the law’s discretionary spending caps by at least $357 billion for 2020-2021. None of the proposed new funding will be paid for with program cuts or increased taxation. Those things are not even being considered.
The country is over $22 trillion in debt and still Congress sees no reason to get serious about controlling spending. It is utterly feckless in prioritizing spending. That Democrats’ plan to raise the caps imposed by the Budget Control Act is irresponsible. It is nothing more than a transparent attempt to divert more money to programs and activities that the federal government shouldn’t be involved in. It will burden Americans with even more deficit spending thus more debt.
The latest move will raise total base discretionary spending by $357 billion. $178 billion would go toward national defense while the other $179 billion would be reserved for domestic programs. On top of the additional base funding, the bill allows for $77 billion in Overseas Contingency Operations funding, $1.15 billion for additional IRS tax enforcement efforts, and $7.5 billion to carry out the 2020 census. All of it will be borrowed and will add to the deficit.
It is the principle of the matter
Regardless of program needs there is a more important principle in play. There is a need for a balanced federal budget that begins repayment of existing debt. Whether or not funding for overseas contingency operations may be needed to ensure our military is properly equipped, the designation has been far too often abused to fill gaps in agency budgets. If Congress does not make a budget they should not provide for contingency spending. Doing so is nothing more than creation of a slush fund; as such is entirely inappropriate.
The other proposed adjustments to the caps in the Budget Control Act are even more problematic. They set dangerous precedent. These are recurring expenses. Congress has had 10 years to prepare for the census. It’s unreasonable for Congress to add $7.5 billion to the deficit just because lawmakers chose not to plan ahead. One of the major problems with the ongoing cycle of two-year budget deals is that all planning has been abandoned. No foresight goes into them. Congress allows federal agencies, many of whom should not exist, to continue to live from one “crisis” to the next.
It is horrifying that the House is trying to portray this irresponsible spending plan as a “budget.” It is nothing of the sort. A budget resolution sets out levels of spending, revenues, deficits, and debt to which the federal government is supposed to adhere. Budget resolutions do not become law, but the levels laid out by a resolution may be enforced by Congress through budgetary points of order.
Budgets unlock the process known as reconciliation, which can result in legislation that becomes law and is a key tool available to Congress to make reforms happen. A bill to raise discretionary spending limits is not a budget resolution. It is a check written against an overdrawn account.
Congress has a statutory duty to produce a budget resolution before April 15 of each year. The Senate Budget Committee at least tried to do its part by approving a five-year budget plan. The House is not even making a legitimate attempt at developing a budget. That is clearly a dereliction of its duty. The House should go back to the drawing board and work with the Senate to develop a real budget plan that includes reconciliation instructions that will reduce spending and put deficit and debt levels on a downward path.
Conclusion
Raising the spending caps lets lawmakers off the hook from budgeting. Simply giving every part of the federal government a raise is no longer appropriate. Unfortunately, taxpayers and future generations will be burdened by the additional debt. They are the real losers. Unless persuaded to do their jobs, lawmakers are content to avoid making the difficult funding choices they are responsible for. The lack of a fiscal year 2020 budget in the House shows why reforms such as the No Budget, No Pay Act are needed.
Ref:
https://budget.house.gov/news/press-releases/chairman-yarmuth-introduces-investing-people-act-2019
https://www.heritage.org/budget-and-spending/report/reform-the-budget-control-act-spending-caps?_ga=2.263112716.1048847419.1554754073-934489416.1544108893
https://www.dailysignal.com/2019/04/08/house-democrats-pursue-a-reckless-spending-deal-not-a-budget/?utm_source=TDS_Email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=CapitolBell”&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiTlRKaE16RmhPV1EyWWpVMyIsInQiOiJ6clRScmdVOUxMbDI4OGZVdGpmQ0VaMUhIamIwbkZKTDkrRkc2K3I5WThobFlcL3VQVktqM1c1ZHRGQkNwOFlWNk1NSHJTUGh6bzl6MVJmYnhlemRSYjV1YzhDNlBkNFVITGo0Sm94RHNxUllsN3h1VE5MSFpUd1RRZFdaXC8xUmVUIn0%3D
https://www.heritage.org/budget-and-spending/report/needed-effective-fiscal-framework-restrain-spending-and-control-debt-the?_ga=2.31264575.1048847419.1554754073-934489416.1544108893
https://www.heritage.org/budget-and-spending/report/budget-gimmicks-increase-federal-spending-and-mask-true-costs?_ga=2.62866220.1048847419.1554754073-934489416.1544108893