Budget Policy: Biennial Budgeting for the Federal Government (Testimony,
10/07/93, GAO/T-AIMD-94-4).

Frustration and the budget process appear to go hand and hand.  The
public seems confused by the budget process, while executive branch
agencies view it as a time-consuming ordeal.  Even Members of Congress
characterize the process as lengthy and accompanied by too many votes on
authorizations, budget resolution, reconciliation, appropriations, and
debt limit.  Too often the results are not what was expected or hoped
for.  GAO testified that although biennial appropriations could save
time for federal agencies, they also could shift control and oversight
over federal programs away from Congress.  Moreover, although budgeting
always involves forecasting, the longer the period of the forecast, the
greater the uncertainty.  Increased difficulty in forecasting is one of
the main reasons that states have switched from biennial to annual
cycles. In GAO's view, biennial appropriations would hardly be a
cure-all for the nation's budget problems.  Congress will have to ask
itself how it wants to exercise its constitutional authority over
appropriations and in what forum it will conduct its oversight
responsibilities.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  T-AIMD-94-4
     TITLE:  Budget Policy: Biennial Budgeting for the Federal Government
      DATE:  10/07/93
   SUBJECT:  Budgeting
             State budgets
             Budget administration
             Budget controllability
             Future budget projections
             Appropriations
             Proposed legislation
             Multiple-year budget authority
             Oversight by Congress
             Fiscal policies
IDENTIFIER:  National Performance Review
             
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