Hearing of House Committee on the Budget - The President's Budget for Fiscal Year 2006

HEARING OF HOUSE COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET - THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2006

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Mr. Cuellar. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Bolten, let me direct your attention to the budget process reform that the administration is proposing. I agree that budgetary tools should be used to make government more efficient, more effective, more accountable. The question that arises, of course, when you look at the budgetary tools, what type of tools you are going to use, who and how are they going to be used, whether by the legislature or the executive branch.

When I look at the three criteria that the administration is proposing, they look awfully familiar. I served in the State legislature budgetary committee up there 10 years, and 6 out of those years I got to work with the then Governor Bush in that particular time. And as I look at this criteria--it is pretty much, I guess, a compliment to Texas--it is pretty much a blueprint of what we used there.

But I feel there are some steps that are missing. Because, again, we have to have a government that is efficient, effective and accountable, but still you have to have that compassion because you have to deal with the people's factor when you deal with the budget.

I have two requests. The first request, and I believe it was the chairman that made this request when he talked about getting some information on those 150 programs. What I would ask you to do, as you provide that information, if you can provide this information using your three criteria that you listed here. That is, when you talk about the 150 programs that are proposed to be cut, one, can you provide information to say how that particular program doesn't meet the Nation's priority? Number two, why is it that that program's mission does not meet the appropriate Federal role? And on top of that, list the Federal roles that you feel that the administration feels that we should be following, the different Federal roles. Finally, if you could also provide the performance measures for those particular programs that are slated to be cut, that is, the 150 programs, request number one.

Request No. 2, who is your lead staff person on performance budgeting?

Mr. Bolten. Deputy Director for Management Clay Johnson is the leader for the government on the whole performance evaluation process.

Mr. Cuellar. Could he meet with me on a one-to-one basis so we can go over some of these steps?

Because I like some of the steps, but I think in my opinion, in my humble opinion, I think there are a couple of steps missing, and I would like to meet with him to talk about some of those steps. Because, again, I feel very strongly that, for example, there is a suggestion of a sunset commission. I agree with that. We have used that successfully for many years.

On the results commission, I would like to go into some details. Because, again, I feel that it belongs to the legislature. Congress should provide an oversight, and I feel that we should do a lot more on the oversight and especially when we look at the performance of the different agencies.

So there are some steps and some details that I would like to go over with you all, and if he has time this week, I would like to meet with him this week, if possible.

Mr. Bolten. I am sure Mr. Johnson would be happy to make time for a fellow Texan.

Mr. Cuellar. From an appointment process to a budgetary process, that is a good promotion.

Mr. Bolten. He is a fine manager. I think you will enjoy dealing with him.

Mr. Cuellar. Mr. Chairman, I yield back my 10 minutes and 7 seconds.

Chairman Nussle [presiding]. Mr. Cuellar, if I could, when you are done with your investigation and discussion, I would like to visit with you and your staff. This may be worth a separate hearing on this entire topic where we look at how we can make this a more manageable and consistent process within the legislative calendar. There may be some other things we need to look at, but this may be worth its own hearing to talk about a results-based management approach to our program.

Mr. Cuellar. Mr. Chairman, I would like to do that. If it is OK, I would like to meet with the minority staff and the majority staff together when we meet with Mr. Johnson, have both staff there.

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