Our Nation's Budget
Our Nation's Budget
By U.S. Representative John R. Carter
February 16, 2005
A budget, not one of the most exciting topics to discuss, is an everyday term and something working Americans have to integrate into their everyday lives. The government is no different; many would like to believe it has bottomless pockets, but that is far from the truth.
Each year the budget process for the following fiscal year begins with the President submitting his budget to Congress on the first Monday in February. Following its submission, each House Committee reports its views and estimates to the House Budget Committee. After this occurs, the House Budget Committee reports the proposed budget to the House floor for a vote. The goal is for the House and Senate to have a budget passed and back to the President before mid April.
Due to a series of events, including wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, we are currently faced with deficits, which is a concern to many Americans. This year's budget addresses those concerns. While maintaining fiscal responsibility, this year's budget meets America's priorities, including securing our freedom, strengthening the economy and creating jobs while also staying committed to a variety of other long standing priorities such as providing better schools for our children, and ensuring access to quality health care. With these things in mind, Congress is working on proposing a budget.
When Republicans took control of Congress in 1995, they quickly balanced the budget after decades of out-of-control spending. This budget will once again put us back on the trail to a balanced budget. Fiscal responsibility is more than making the numbers add up; it requires finding a balance on competing demands, weighing desires against needs, and facing obligations not only to today's generation, but also tomorrow's.
The next fiscal year is on the horizon and once Congress and the President have approved the budget, Congress will begin to work on passing 10 appropriation bills. Appropriation bills set monetary limits for each department and branch of government. The power of appropriating is granted to the legislative branch by the Constitution, "No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law " The only action the executive branch has in this process is the President's constitutional power to approve or veto each appropriation bill. I now have the distinct honor of serving on the Appropriations committee where I actively work on three subcommittees: Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs (formerly known as Military Construction), Homeland Security, and Foreign Operations.
Now as we set forth to debate and approve the budget, fiscal responsibility, the third principle, will be weighing heavily on my mind. We cannot get back on track fiscally without reevaluating our priorities and making tough choices. After all, it's someone else's money the government is spending - your money.
The surest way to pay down the debt is to grow the economy and control spending. I hope you will be able to witness the 109th Congress due just that.
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/speech/tx31_carter/feb16_budget.html