Senate Budget Committee

Supporting Broad-Based Economic Growth and Fiscal Responsibility through Tax Reform

Wed, 22 May 2013 02:30:00 EST

Witnesses:

Michael Linden
Managing Director, Economic Policy
Center for American Progress

Adam Looney, PhD
Senior Fellow, Economic Studies
The Brookings Institution

Veronique de Rugy, PhD
Senior Research Fellow
Mercatus Center at George Mason University

The Nomination of Brian C. Deese, of Massachusetts, to be Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:30:00 EST

On Tuesday, May, 21^st 2013, Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) and the Senate Budget Committee will hold a hearing on the confirmation of Brian Deese to be Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

READ Chairman Murray’s full statement on the Nomination of Brian Deese.

Goverment Executive: Agencies Need Congress’ Help to Weed Out Duplicate Programs

Thu, 16 May 2013 05:30:00 EST

By Charles S. Clark

The success of any Obama administration bid to eliminate overlapping or duplicative programs may hinge on bipartisan cooperation from a turf-conscious Congress as well as clear and enduring metrics, a Senate panel was told on Thursday.

Efforts to curb the proliferation of education programs promoting science and math, for example, “will obviously mean some folks are not pleased at losing their programs,” the top White House science adviser said, “but agencies understand the need for greater coherence in administering them.”

John Holdren, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology, testified before the Senate Budget Committee’s Task Force on Government Performance on the topic of “Silo Busting: Effective Strategies for Government Reorganization.”

The topic is being championed by task force leader Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., who began the hearing by reiterating his intention to introduce a bill—as he did in the previous Congress -- to give President Obama his requested renewal of authority that chief executives enjoyed before the 1980s to consolidate agencies to streamline management and save money. “Any CEO worth his or her salt knows this is a key tool,” Warner said, adding that during his freshman year in the Senate he identified 11 programs that both the George W. Bush and Obama administrations agreed should be ended.

“You quickly learn it’s the hardest thing, particularly across departments and with Congress’ authority entities. Each program has a champion within government or Congress,” he said.

The Government Accountability Office over the past three years has identified 300 actions that agencies could take in 131 program areas to reduce duplication. Comptroller General Gene Dodaro at the hearing reviewed the most recently reported ones, mentioning the military services’ separate pursuit of uniforms, the existence of renewable energy Initiatives at 23 agencies and duplication of investments in geospatial information technology among multiple federal and state agencies.

But making headway, Dodaro said, will depend on improved congressional oversight, clear measures of progress that are kept in place over time, and more joint- and multiple-committee hearings on the administration’s 14 cross-agency goals required under the Government Performance and Results Modernization Act. “Unless Congress pays attention, it won’t be sufficient to meet our long-term fiscal challenges,” he said, adding that “it’s not the program person’s job to stop the program -- in fact, the incentives are the opposite.”

The comptroller did cite progress. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, for example, recently saved $15 million by cancelling duplicative audits of program integrity contracts. But at least 21 percent of the action items have not been addressed, he said.

Dodaro said government programs duplicate themselves through a process of “accretion” over decades. He also pointed to the addition of new target populations for training programs and the Defense Department’s “service-specific incentives and stovepipes.” He said he would favor current legislation to require all bills creating new programs to document whether similar programs already exist.

Holdren noted that the Obama fiscal 2014 budget calls for spending of $3.1 billion, a 6 percent increase, on programs promoting science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, programs. Some 226 of them are currently spread over 13 agencies, and the White House proposes to save $176 million by eliminating 78 and consolidating 38. The effort would be led by the Education Department, the National Science Foundation and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers less formal courses, but all three would “draw on resources and expertise from the other agencies and reach out to their specific audiences.” A strategy paper on the topic is due out later this month, he said.

Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H. , said, “Common sense reforms too often fall victim to business-as-usual politics, and this needs to stop in these challenging times.“ She zeroed in on the catfish inspection program, which currently involves the Agriculture Department, the Food and Drug Administration and the Fish and Wildlife Service, expressing hope that it will be streamlined during debate next week on the farm bill.

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., asked the GAO chief whether during sequestration he had received calls from agencies on how to save money. Dodaro said not personally, but he expressed hope that agency managers had looked at the three GAO reports on duplication.

Warner said he would also like to pursue passage of the pending DATA Act, which aims to streamline finance systems, noting that the Pentagon alone has 200 financial systems. He would also like to relive agencies of obligations to produce some 200 reports to Congress that, he says, “never get looked at. It’s not a huge amount of savings, but it would be as “a sign to federal workers,” Warner said, “that we in Congress focus on a better way.”

Murray Continues Calling for Republicans to Choose a Bipartisan Budget Conference Over Brinkmanship

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:30:00 EST

“I urge my Republican colleagues in the Senate to take a step toward a responsible, bipartisan budget agreement, and a step away from governing by crisis”

Murray Continues Calling for Republicans to Choose a Bipartisan Budget Conference Over Brinkmanship

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:30:00 EST

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) delivered a speech on the Senate floor urging Senate Republicans to stop blocking the Senate from moving to a budget conference with the House. Murray asked for unanimous consent to move to conference and for the eighth time, Senate Republicans refused.

Murray expressed hope that Senate Republicans will change course, agree to a bipartisan budget conference, and work with Democrats toward a balanced and fair deal. She criticized House Republicans for debating what to demand in return for not pushing the government into default and devastating the economy, rather than moving towards bipartisan negotiations.

Over the past few days, more and more Senate Republicans have come out in opposition to their leadership’s budget conference obstruction. Read more about Senate Republicans fracturing on this in Politico and CQ.

Watch Murray’s speech HERE

Key excerpts from Murray’s floor speech:

“…I am here today to ask again that Senate Republicans stop blocking the next step in regular order, and allow us to move to a bipartisan budget conference with the House. We have waited long enough, 54 days, in fact, and it is really time to get to work on a bipartisan budget agreement.”

“Senate Democrats see no reason to delay. We are proud of our budget, which puts forward a strong, fair vision for getting more Americans back to work, tackling our long term debt and deficit challenges, and laying a foundation for a strong middle class in the future.”

“…some of our Republican colleagues in the Senate and the House would rather wait until the next crisis, and see if they can extract political concessions with the clock ticking. Or maybe they don’t want to have to air the details of the unpopular House Budget. But either way, there is no excuse for putting the American people through another round of partisan brinkmanship. We’ve already seen that it hurts our economy, and it causes Americans to question whether their government is really working for them.”

“Just yesterday, House Republicans met to discuss what they’ll demand in exchange for not tanking the economy. Apparently they are considering “a laundry list” including repealing Obamacare, which the House will vote on for the 37^th time today, and restrictions on women’s health choices. But House Republicans’ practice of leveraging crises for their own gain died with the Boehner Rule, and no amount of wishing is going to bring it back.”

The full text of Senator Murray’s speech follows:

“M. President, I am here today to ask again that Senate Republicans stop blocking the next step in regular order, and allow us to move to a bipartisan budget conference with the House. We have waited long enough, 54 days, in fact, and it is really time to get to work on a bipartisan budget agreement.

“It seems, M. President, that some of our Republican colleagues in the Senate and the House would rather wait until the next crisis, and see if they can extract political concessions with the clock ticking. Or maybe they don’t want to have to air the details of the unpopular House Budget. But either way, there is no excuse for putting the American people through another round of partisan brinkmanship. We’ve already seen that it hurts our economy, and it causes Americans to question whether their government is really working for them.

“Because M. President, House Republicans may think brinkmanship helps them win political fights, but it certainly doesn’t help American families and communities, and that is who we are here to serve. And so I urge my Republican colleagues in the Senate to take a step toward a responsible, bipartisan budget agreement, and a step away from governing by crisis.

“M. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 33, H. Con. Res. 25; that the amendment, which is at the desk, the text of S. Con. Res. 8, the budget resolution passed by the Senate, be inserted in lieu thereof; that H. Con. Res. 25, as amended, be agreed to; the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table; that the Senate insist on its amendment, request a conference with the House on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses, and the chair be authorized to appoint conferees on the part of the Senate, all with no intervening action or debate.

“Thank you, and I yield the floor.”

Silo Busting: Effective Strategies for Government Reorganization

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:30:00 EST

The Committee on the Budget and the Task Force on Government Performance held a hearing examining effective strategies for government reorganization.

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:12:00 EST

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:11:00 EST

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:09:00 EST

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:08:00 EST

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:07:00 EST

Silo Busting: Effective Strategies for Government Reorganization

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:00:00 EST

The Committee on the Budget and the Task Force on Government Performance held a hearing on Silo Busting: Effective Strategies for Government Reorganization

Chairman Murray Continues Push for Budget Conference

Wed, 15 May 2013 06:30:00 EST

"Instead of moving toward the middle, and joining us at the table ready to compromise, House Republicans spent their afternoon debating what to write on the ransom note”

Chairman Murray Continues Push for Budget Conference; Calls on Republicans to End the Hostage-Taking and Debt Limit Brinksmanship

Wed, 15 May 2013 06:30:00 EST

Today, Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) delivered a speech on the Senate floor calling on Senate Republicans once again to stop blocking the Senate from moving to a budget conference with the House. Earlier in the day, Senate Republicans blocked a request move to a budget conference for the 7^th time.

Murray criticized House Republicans for spending the day debating with each other over what they plan to demand in return for not pushing the government into default and devastating the economy. She expressed hope that they change course and work with Democrats in a conference toward a balanced and bipartisan budget deal that works for families and the economy.

Key excerpts from Murray’s floor speech:

“…it has now been 53 days since the Senate passed a budget…we have tried to do so seven times, and each time, a Senate Republican has stood up and said no. Given how much Senate Republicans have talked about regular order over the past two years, we are surprised that they are now resisting this next step in bipartisan negotiations.”

“…we should start working towards a bipartisan budget deal that works for families and our economy as soon as possible, and engage the American people in a thorough and responsible debate.”

“…instead of meeting to discuss moving towards a bipartisan conference, House Republicans met to discuss what they’ll ask for in exchange for not tanking the economy several months from now….Instead of moving toward the middle, and joining us at the table ready to compromise, they spent their afternoon debating what to write on the ransom note.”

“…a lot of families across the country are very concerned that House Republicans haven’t learned any lessons at all from the past two years, and that we are looking at more brinkmanship, more governing by crisis, and more harm for American families and businesses. House Republicans are even telling us they are willing to put foreign creditors before our seniors, veterans, and businesses, and claiming that this plan would somehow protect the economy.”

“Let’s get to work. Our country’s challenges, rather than a looming artificial deadline or crisis, should guide our debate.”

“It would be deeply irresponsible for the House to continue delaying a conference, and for Senate Republicans to continue to cover for them, especially if they are doing so for political reasons, to keep the negotiations out of the public eye, or to avoid taking a few tough votes.”

“So I urge my Republican colleagues to reconsider their approach, join us in a budget conference ready to compromise, and work with us towards the bipartisan budget deal the American people deserve.”

The full text of Senator Murray’s speech follows:

“M. President, it has now been 53 days since the Senate passed a budget. Senate Democrats are pushing to keep this process moving and go to conference. We believe that with all of the urgent challenges we face, there is every reason to get to work right away on a bipartisan deal, and absolutely no reason to delay until the next crisis.

“But M. President, we have tried to do so seven times, and each time, a Senate Republican has stood up and said no. Given how much Senate Republicans have talked about regular order over the past two years, we are surprised that they are now resisting this next step in bipartisan negotiations.

“And it’s not just Democrats who want to go to conference; quite a few Senate Republicans seem as surprised as we are. My colleague Senator McCain said blocking conference is “incomprehensible” and “insane.” Senator Corker said that to “keep from appointing conferees is not consistent.” And Senator Flake said he “would like to see a conference now.”

“M. President, I sincerely hope Republican leaders in the Senate will listen to these members of their own party, because we’ve got a lot of problems to solve, and we should get started.

“Our children and young adults need a world-class education system to succeed in the global economy. Too many Americans are still out of work or underemployed. Our national infrastructure is quickly becoming an obstacle rather than an asset to our competitiveness. And we need to do more to responsibly tackle our long-term deficit and debt challenges and make our tax code work better for the middle class. The debate about these kinds of challenges could not be more important.

“So we should start working towards a bipartisan budget deal that works for families and our economy as soon as possible, and engage the American people in a thorough and responsible debate.

“That’s why, M. President, I was very disappointed to see that today, instead of meeting to discuss moving towards a bipartisan conference, House Republicans met to discuss what they’ll ask for in exchange for not tanking the economy several months from now.

“Instead of moving toward the middle, and joining us at the table ready to compromise, they spent their afternoon debating what to write on the ransom note, and saying that if they don’t get what they want, they will allow the U.S. to default, an unprecedented event that would devastate our economy.

“So, M. President, I think a lot of families across the country are very concerned that House Republicans haven’t learned any lessons at all from the past two years, and that we are looking at more brinkmanship, more governing by crisis, and more harm for American families and businesses.

“House Republicans are even telling us they are willing to put foreign creditors before our seniors, veterans, and businesses, and claiming that this plan would somehow protect the economy.

“But M. President, we all know this is absurd. A default is a default. If the federal government pays its foreign creditors but defaults on its obligations to our families and communities, the results would be catastrophic. Ratings agencies would rightly see that as a serious abdication of our responsibilities. Our fragile economic recovery would be threatened. And people across the country would lose faith in their government’s ability to function.

“Fortunately, I don’t think it will come to this. Republicans have said themselves that default would be a ‘financial disaster’ for the global economy and that ‘you can’t not raise the debt ceiling.’ And just a few months ago, Republicans acknowledged how dangerous it would be to play games with the debt limit, and how politically damaging it would be to play politics with potential economic calamity, and they dropped their demands.

“So M. President, what’s changed since then? Why are Republicans once again using this empty threat that does nothing more than rattle the markets and increase uncertainty?

“Maybe House Republicans think that since we won’t hit the debt ceiling until later than we originally expected, there could be less pressure to get a deal, and more opportunity for them to extract political concessions.

“But that’s exactly the wrong way to think about this. Because even if we know they will reverse course eventually, the Republican strategy of holding the economy hostage, creating uncertainty, and trying to push us toward another crisis has terrible consequences.

“All of my colleagues remember the summer of 2011, when extreme elements in the Republican Party demanded economically damaging policies, leading to a downgrade of our nation’s credit. Economic growth and job creation slowed to a halt. Consumer confidence plummeted.

“And out of that summer came sequestration, a policy that was meant to serve only as a trigger, and was only implemented because Republicans were focused on protecting the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations from paying a penny more in taxes, rather than making a deal.

“Today, sequestration is forcing families and communities across the country to cope with layoffs and deep cuts to services they count on, like child care and even public safety. Just yesterday, M. President, we learned that DOD civilian employees, many of whom are veterans, will be furloughed.

“So we need to replace sequestration with balanced and responsible deficit reduction, but we also need to stop the lurching from crisis to crisis that allows these kinds of policies to be enacted. There is absolutely no reason to double down on an approach that has these kinds of effects on the families and communities we serve, and on those who have bravely served our country.

“And so, contrary to what we’re unfortunately hearing from the House, I believe that with more time to reach a fair, bipartisan agreement, we have all the more reason to move to conference quickly. Let’s get to work. Our country’s challenges, rather than a looming artificial deadline or crisis, should guide our debate.

“M. President, this shouldn’t be controversial. There are responsible leaders on both sides of the aisle who agree. I hope Senate Republican leaders listen to the members of their own party who are calling for conference, and bring us one step closer to negotiating a bipartisan budget deal in a responsible way, instead of insisting that we run down the clock.

“I know there are factions in our government that believe compromise is a dirty word, and that getting a deal won’t be easy. But I continue to believe it can be done. Because alongside those who refuse to compromise, there are responsible leaders who came here to show Americans that their government works.

“Thank you, and I yield the floor.”

Chairman Murray’s Statement on Continued GOP Budget Obstruction

Mon, 13 May 2013 06:30:00 EST

"I call on Republicans to allow us to move to a budget conference and join us at the table willing to make compromises and work toward a bipartisan deal."

Chairman Murray’s Statement on Continued GOP Budget Obstruction

Mon, 13 May 2013 06:30:00 EST

Today, Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement after Majority Leader Harry Reid asked for consent to move to a budget conference but then withdrew it after no Republicans came to the floor to respond.

“It has now been 51 days since the Senate and House have passed our respective budgets. Senate Democrats have tried five times to move to a conference committee where we can work together toward a balanced and bipartisan budget deal, but Senate Republicans have stood up and objected each time. This obstruction has lasted too long already, and I call on my Republican colleagues to stop blocking the budget process and allow us to move to conference.

“It’s not just Democrats who think we should move to conference, many Republicans agree. One of my Republican colleagues said it was ‘incomprehensible’ that his own leadership is blocking a budget conference after spending so much time talking about the importance of the Senate passing a budget and Congress returning to regular order. Another Senate Republican said he would ‘like to see a conference now.’ Hopefully Senate Republican leaders start listening to their own members and stop blocking what shouldn’t be a controversial step in the budget process.

“Instead of joining us in a bipartisan conference, House Republicans seem to be more focused on their party’s conference this week where they plan to decide what they’ll demand in exchange for not tanking the economy. This kind of brinksmanship is wrong, and it needs to end.

“The debt limit should not be a pawn that Republicans use to keep their Tea Party base happy. Republican leaders admitted earlier this year that, despite their rhetoric, they were not actually willing to drive the government into default and the economy over a cliff. The Boehner rule is already dead, even if the Tea Party won’t allow Speaker Boehner to admit it. So Republicans should stop stalling and playing political games that will do nothing more than hurt the economy and cause needless uncertainty.

“The American people are sick and tired of the lurching from crisis to crisis that is hurting the economy and causing uncertainty for families and communities across the country. I call on Republicans to allow us to move to a budget conference and join us at the table willing to make compromises and work toward a bipartisan deal.”

Chairman Murray to Senate Republicans: No More Crises

Thu, 09 May 2013 01:30:00 EST

“Democrats are ready to take the steps to make this work but we need a negotiating partner on the other side of the table"

Murray to Senate Republicans: Return to Regular Order; End the Constant Lurching From Crisis to Crisis

Thu, 09 May 2013 01:00:00 EST

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) delivered a speech on the Senate floor calling on Senate Republicans again to stop blocking the Senate from moving to a budget conference with the House. Murray urged Republicans to end the constant lurching from crisis to crisis and instead, choose a responsible path to a deal by moving to a formal, public conference under regular order.

Key excerpts from Murray’s floor speech:

“I think a lot of people, myself included, expected that after calling for regular order so consistently, Republicans would be eager to take the next step in the process.”

“House Republicans have announced a conference—but it’s not a conference about getting a budget deal. It’s a conference to decide what they’ll demand in exchange for not tanking the economy….This is absurd, and it’s not going to happen. We know because we went through the same thing last time we approached the debt limit.”

“Just a few months ago, Republicans realized how dangerous it would be to play games with the debt limit, and how politically damaging it would be to play politics with potential economic calamity, and they dropped their demands. The so-called Boehner rule died, and no amount of wishing from the Tea Party is going to bring it back.”

“…the Republican strategy of holding the economy hostage and trying to push us to another crisis is absolutely the wrong approach. Because, while getting a deal certainly won’t be easy, we need to end the constant lurching from crisis to crisis that has defined this issue for far too long. And there is no reason to wait.”

“Democrats are ready to take the steps to make this work but we need a negotiating partner on the other side of the table…. I really believe many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle want to return to regular order and move away from the constant crises. I think that’s what the American people want as well. And I urge those who are blocking us to reverse course and choose a responsible path to a deal.”

The full text of Senator Murray’s speech follows:

“M. President, it has now been 47 days since the Senate passed our budget. Senate Democrats have requested unanimous consent to move to conference five times. We want to take this next step in the process….to move forward under regular order….and to continue this debate in an open and public way.

“But every time we’ve tried, Senate Republicans stood up and said no.

“M. President, I think this truly comes as a surprise to many people across the country. I think they are disappointed. I think a lot of people, myself included, expected that after calling for regular order so consistently, Republicans would be eager to take the next step in the process.

“Some Republicans say they want to negotiate a “framework” behind closed doors before going to conference, but that is what a budget really is, a framework that lays out our values and priorities, and helps us plan for our country’s future.

“So why can’t we discuss that framework in a formal, public conference?

“M. President, I am sure Republicans aren’t excited about the prospect of defending their extreme budget all over again in a conference committee. We’ve seen time and time again that Americans aren’t interested in more tax breaks for the wealthiest or Medicare vouchers. But Republicans wrote that budget, they voted for it, they passed it, and they should be happy to defend it.

“I know Senate Democrats are happy to stand up and talk about ours.

“M. President, the American people deserve to see the two visions for our nation’s future side by side, and contrasted with each other. They deserve to see who is willing to compromise, or who isn’t.

“We’ve heard that House Republican leadership is concerned that as a result of going to conference, the House might have to take a lot of difficult votes.

“Well, I’m sure my colleagues in the House remember the vote-a-rama before we passed the Senate Budget in March, when we were here until 5AM trying to make sure that as many Senators’ voices were heard as possible. We considered more than a hundred amendments from both sides of the aisle. But holding a thorough, open debate was the right thing to do. And I don’t think the American people are going to be very sympathetic to the argument that Republicans don’t want to go to conference because they are afraid of taking a few tough votes.

“M. President, it is deeply disappointing to me that Republicans are running away from regular order, and right towards another crisis. And that they’re willing to take American families and our economy along for the ride.

“M. President, this is absurd, and it’s not going to happen. We know because we went through the same thing last time we approached the debt limit.

“M. President, the Republican strategy of holding the economy hostage and trying to push us to another crisis is absolutely the wrong approach. Because, while getting a deal certainly won’t be easy, we need to end the constant lurching from crisis to crisis that has defined this issue for far too long. And there is no reason to wait.

“Democrats are ready to take the steps to make this work but we need a negotiating partner on the other side of the table. I know there are those who think compromise is a dirty word, and that those voices are often louder than others. But I really believe many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle want to return to regular order and move away from the constant crises. I think that’s what the American people want as well. And I urge those who are blocking us to reverse course and choose a responsible path to a deal.

“Thank you. I yield the floor.”

Chairman Murray’s Statement on the House Passage of HR 807, Debt Prioritization

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:00:00 EST

“Instead of working with us to avoid another manufactured crisis, House Republicans now seem like they are actively working to drive us toward one.

“The bill the House passed today would put foreign creditors ahead of American seniors, veterans, students, and small business owners—and it would do nothing to ease the economic harm and uncertainty caused by a new round of Republican brinksmanship. The President has said he would veto this bill and it is a nonstarter in the Senate.

“Instead of debating with each other about what ransom they should demand in return for not tanking the economy, Republicans should join Democrats in a budget conference and allow us to get back to regular order and away from the constant crises.”

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