GOP could push for two-year budget as price of deal to raise debt ceiling

[Recursion]

Source: The Hill

Republican leaders are considering asking the White House to back a significant reform of the federal budget process in exchange for raising the nation’s debt ceiling.

The GOP wish list for hiking the debt ceiling will be long, and Republican sources contend that overhauling the annual appropriations process is in the mix.

The proposed spending revamp, which has been pending in Congress for more than a decade, would require the president to submit a budget every other year at the beginning of the first session of Congress.

Supporters say passing a two-year budget would allow Congress to focus more on oversight issues instead of constantly trying to hit spending deadlines, many of which aren’t met.

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/165035-gop-may-push-for-two-year-budget-as-price-of-debt-deal

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I think this could be a good idea, particularly since Congresses meet for two years, and might reduce some of the incentive to do creative accounting to lower the on-book deficit for a given fiscal year.

[Atman]

1. FUCK THEM.

Make them take ownership for this. Can the Democrats, FOR ONCE, show some backbone?

[Recursion]

2. Several questions come to mind

1) what's wrong with a biennial budget, in your mind?

2) How does a legislator show "backbone"? Are a separate set of parliamentary procedures available to people with "backbone"?

[Atman]

7. That's only "a couple of questions."

Seriously, though...if the GOP is pushing it, my gut tells me it's not in the best interest of the country. It is in the best interest of the GOP and/or their contributors.

I honestly don't know enough about the biennial budget, though. Does that mean twice yearly or every two years? Every two years seems dangerous. Shit happens which we can't control, and such a long-term budget could wreak havoc in the event of natural disasters or other unforeseen expenses. Twice a year could be just as ridiculous, as we'll be in a constant state of budget negotiations.

As for "backbone," I'm sure you're not that naive. Republicans have backbone inasmuch as that they take a position and they're willing to stick with it and support it. Democrats tend to announce their willing to compromise before the negotiations have even begun.

.

[Recursion]

9. It has nothing to do with naivete

As for "backbone," I'm sure you're not that naive. Republicans have backbone inasmuch as that they take a position and they're willing to stick with it and support it.

I think what's naive is believing that if somehow Democrats were "tougher" or "fought", Congress would work differently than it always has.

(As a side note, conservative activists say the same thing about Republicans: that they have no "backbone", they don't "fight", and they can't keep their RINOs in check like Democrats keep the DINOs in check.)

Does that mean twice yearly or every two years?

Once every two years. The President would propose a two-fiscal-year budget at the opening of each Congress.

[cstanleytech]

10. True, usually there is a catch when its something they want to do

but there are times (few as they may be) when they do have an idea that kind of makes sense.

[JDPriestly]

13. Do you have a biennial budget yourself?

Frankly, we have a very limited, but pretty reliable income (depending on Congress), so our budget is the same every month.

But when we were young and working, our budget fluctuated according to our family's needs and our income (which changed from time to time). Congress does well to get a budget passed every year. And Bush put so much stuff off budget that raising the debt limit was meaningless during his tenure.

Further, as long as the Federal Reserve is handing out money like candy -- off-budget, this whole budget controversy is a waste of time.

Republicans should raise the debt ceiling and try to raise wages so that income will rise. The low wages that result in low tax revenue are the problem.

[Recursion]

17. I have a six-month budget. My work has a four-year budget

It particularly makes sense since a Congress exists for two years.

[Angry Dragon]

3. They can't do a budget for one year

how are they going to do two years??

Cut military by 25%

Raise taxes on wealthy to 70%

[Recursion]

8. That's the point; we only get that vexation at the opening of every Congress

Then in the second year of the Congress they can actually, you know, govern and oversee.

[JDPriestly]

14. And if something unexpected happens?

An annual budget is about as rigid as life permits.

We are having huge floods in the midwest now.

Last year we had the BP spill.

A few years before that was Katrina.

Hurricanes, tornadoes, natural disasters, these are things that people cannot adequately prepare for. The government cannot budget what is coming.

No, a biennial budget is a foolish idea.

What is more, voting on the budget is the most important policy issue that Congress faces. That is where policy decisions are really made.

The Republicans know that they will never control this many seats in Congress again, so they want to change the program to give themselves as much power for the moment as they can.

[Recursion]

16. Emergency appropriations, same as now

We are having huge floods in the midwest now.

Last year we had the BP spill.

A few years before that was Katrina.

And the appropriations for precisely none of those came through the budget process.

[atreides1]

4. Sure

As long as part of the agreement is for congress to adjourn after the budget is passed...with the exception of the members of major committees...not subcommittees...just the main ones.

And any decisions on oversight can be dealt with when congress meets again in two years...unless it has to do with national security.

This would only apply to the House...the Senate would remain in session.

[madrchsod]

5. a second fuck them.....

these fuckers are making me wish for the ghost of richard nixon would come back and kick their asses

[Recursion]

6. What's so bad about a biennial budget?

The single FY spending bill currently takes up damn near the whole year as it is.

[madrchsod]

11. there is no reason to change the present system

it has worked in the past and it will work in the future. this is a very dangerous game of chicken that has become acceptable in this country. this is`t about the budget this is about defaulting this country and lay the blame on barack obama.

gingrich tried this in the 90`s to fuck over clinton....how`d that work out for the republicans....

[Recursion]

18. Except it's not working now

It eats up essentially all of Congress's time, and has become the way most legislation actually gets passed (even though it isn't technically "legislation"). Plus we don't even have a budget this year.

A two-year Congress passes a two-year budget. It kind of makes sense to me.

[DallasNE]

12. I Agree In Principle

Many States already do 2-year budgets. As long as the rules are not too restrictive then I don't see why it wouldn't be a fine idea. The rule do need to allow for emergencies, like Katrina and other disasters, as well as sudden turns in the economy where substantial mid-course corrections become necessary. Such triggers should be easy to craft. With that, why not?

[bluestateguy]

15. A budget is little more than a weather forecast

With assumptions about economic growth (known unknowns, unknown unknowns) and best guesses about the costs of various expenditures. Then there are the natural disasters, the unexpected costs of our militaristic foreign policy, bailouts, and various other so-called emergencies--domestically and abroad-- that are bound to pop-up in the course of a budget year.

So if a 2 year budget cycle is really that important to them, and if they back off of their proposals for draconian cuts elsewhere, why not? It's not like the budget numbers adopted would be adhered to anyway.

[Recursion]

19. And you'll probably end up with an off-year supplemental anyways (nt)

[Thor_MN]

20. What happened to the Upperdowns of yesteryear?

Find tape of Rethugs blathering on and on about up or down votes. Loop it and play it back to them.