Isakson Introduces Biennial Budget Appropriations Act

Jan 27, 2011

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., today introduced the Biennial Budget Appropriations Act that would switch Congress from an annual spending process to a two-year cycle, with one year for appropriating federal dollars and the other year devoted to oversight of federal programs.

Isakson has sponsored biennial budgeting proposals every year since he came to the Senate in 2005.

“We must rein in spending, reform our broken appropriations process and require that Congress conduct oversight of federal programs on a regular basis. That’s why I have pushed for biennial budgeting every year I’ve been in the Senate,” said Isakson. “This legislation would shift the paradigm in Washington to where elected officials will be forced to talk about oversight, savings and reduced spending during an election year instead of how much pork they can bring home.”

S.211 would convert the federal budget process from an annual, chaotic spending event to a two-year, thoughtful process that would require Congress to conduct oversight. It would mandate that the first year of a Congress be dedicated to appropriating federal dollars while the second year is devoted to scrutinizing federal programs to determine if they are working and deserve to continue to be funded. This budget reform would force Congress to become better stewards of the taxpayers’ money, thereby reducing reckless and wasteful spending.

Congress has repeatedly failed to pass the 12 annual spending bills on time and frequently has resorted to passing omnibus bills at the last minute instead of debating each spending bill individually. Last year, Congress failed to complete work on a single one of the 12 appropriations bills before adjourning for the year. Since 1980, Congress has only twice completed the entire appropriations process before October 1.