Comments on H.R. 5110

In response to a congressional request, GAO commented on H.R. 5110, a bill to establish a Commission on the Budget Process to make recommendations to Congress and the President to improve and reform the budget process. GAO believed that there was merit to the idea of establishing a commission or study group on the budget process. In a prior report, GAO recommended that Congress establish a high level budget study group or commission, comprised of elected and appointed officials and other senior experts, to conduct research and to develop recommendations for certain budget problems and possible reform actions. Such a commission should not be used to delay actions which need to be taken on budget problems that have already been extensively studied, nor should it be used to postpone congressional consideration and action regarding proposals to reform the congressional budget process. GAO suggested revisions to permit the appointment to the commission of certain agency directors or their designees to strengthen agency participation. GAO also felt that the proposed legislation needs to be clarified as to whether the commission would consist of 31 or 30 members.