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TITLE:
A Proposal to Implement a Fine on Congress for Failing to Pass a Budget by the Beginning of a Fiscal Year
MAJOR AREAS TO BE AFFECTED:
Members of the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate
JUSTIFICATION:
The United States Government has been irresponsible with the Federal Budget twice in the past two decades. For the 1996 fiscal year, the House, under Newt Gingrich, refused to pass a budget because of objections to President Clinton\'s objectives for education, Medicare, and the environment. In 2011, the budget was not passed until April 15, 2011 after nine seperate \"emergency funding\" measures. The Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 established the fiscal year for the United States as October 1 through September 30. This Act changed the beginning of the fiscal year from July 1 to June 30 in order to provide a longer period of time in which Congress could debate and pass a budget to ensure the government was funded. When a government shutdown occurs, because of lack of funding, all non-essential government services are shut down. There is no funding to programs like education, national parks, or any city services in Washington D.C. Additionally, even funding for essential services like the military are delayed. If a family cannot pay their bills, they cannot just ignore them. If that family cannot pay their bills on time, they must face consequences. So must the United States Congress face consequences if they fail to pass a budget by the beginning of a fiscal year
PROPOSAL FOR ACTION :
A fine will be implemented on the individual members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives if they fail to pass a budget before October 1 for the next fiscal year.
Temporary spending measures that do not fund all government services (that are to continue receiving funding) until the end of the fiscal year do not constitute a budget.
The fine will be $1000 a week to come out of the salaries received by legislators.
The fines shall be given to the Unites States Treasury Department to be allocated as they see fit.
RESULTS TO BE EXPECTED :
This proposal would result in a huge deterant against Congress failing to pass a budget on time. The American people would know where their money was going, and how much was being spent, and Congress\' credibility would be strengthened
A Proposal to Implement a Fine on Congress for Failing to Pass a Budget by the Beginning of a Fiscal Year
MAJOR AREAS TO BE AFFECTED:
Members of the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate
JUSTIFICATION:
The United States Government has been irresponsible with the Federal Budget twice in the past two decades. For the 1996 fiscal year, the House, under Newt Gingrich, refused to pass a budget because of objections to President Clinton\'s objectives for education, Medicare, and the environment. In 2011, the budget was not passed until April 15, 2011 after nine seperate \"emergency funding\" measures. The Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 established the fiscal year for the United States as October 1 through September 30. This Act changed the beginning of the fiscal year from July 1 to June 30 in order to provide a longer period of time in which Congress could debate and pass a budget to ensure the government was funded. When a government shutdown occurs, because of lack of funding, all non-essential government services are shut down. There is no funding to programs like education, national parks, or any city services in Washington D.C. Additionally, even funding for essential services like the military are delayed. If a family cannot pay their bills, they cannot just ignore them. If that family cannot pay their bills on time, they must face consequences. So must the United States Congress face consequences if they fail to pass a budget by the beginning of a fiscal year
PROPOSAL FOR ACTION :
A fine will be implemented on the individual members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives if they fail to pass a budget before October 1 for the next fiscal year.
Temporary spending measures that do not fund all government services (that are to continue receiving funding) until the end of the fiscal year do not constitute a budget.
The fine will be $1000 a week to come out of the salaries received by legislators.
The fines shall be given to the Unites States Treasury Department to be allocated as they see fit.
RESULTS TO BE EXPECTED :
This proposal would result in a huge deterant against Congress failing to pass a budget on time. The American people would know where their money was going, and how much was being spent, and Congress\' credibility would be strengthened
