JSC Failure is Disappointing

For Immediate Release

The Joint Select Committee on Budget and Appropriations Process Reform (JSC) today failed to report its proposed legislation. Established by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, the JSC was tasked with reporting recommendations by November 30.

The following is a statement from Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget:

The failure of the Joint Select Committee to pass even modest reforms is disappointing and emblematic of our broken political system. It is discouraging that the JSC was unable to pass even the smallest of reforms. The possible looming government shutdown is a perfect example of why we need to fix the process.

It is true that the recommended reforms were too modest to truly fix the broken budget process. Changes are needed to increase accountability and enforceability, put an end to “crisis-driven-budgeting,” encourage compromise, and ultimately improve our fiscal situation.  

We very much hope that this can mark the start of an ongoing effort to improve our budget process and fiscal situation, that the members of the JSC continue their work, and ultimately come up with a comprehensive set of reforms. While we are disappointed, we hope the work that was done does not go to waste.

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For more information contact Ben Tomchik, deputy chief of staff, at tomchik@crfb.org.