The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1958-11-13
with Rep. John Henderson
Budgetary Process

How much will you spend next
year? You say you can't answer
that question? Then try answer
ing this harder one: what will
be the nations expenditures in
the period July 1859 through
June 1862" Here is the question
that is causing broWs to furrow
in Washington even at this mo-
ment, for already the machinery
of preparing the new budget is
in gear. Small governmental seq
ments are being asked to SUBJ
NIT their estimates, so that they
in turn can be made a part of
| the budget request of a larger
unit, and finally of an entire de-
partment of government. The
Bureau of the Budget, then re-
quireS the various departments
to justify their estimates and
requests. The Bureau often dis
allows or amends a portion of
requested funds, decreasing or
increasing the total request ac-
cording to the Administrations
program.
The finished product the
printed budget, is presented to
Congress in the latter part of
January, together with the Presi-
dents budget message. On the
same day the chairmen of the
Appropriation sub = committees
introduce bills calling for ap-
preparation of funds in amounts
suggested by the budget. There
after the justification process
begins all over again, with each
of the departments and smaller
units of government appearing
before the subcommittee to sup
port their requests. The sub-com-
mittee, after weeks and some
times months of tedious hearings,
"mark-up" or amend the bill as
the members feel it should be-
| Several forces enter the pic
ture after the budget message Is
read. One is the passage of time
with changing vents which jus
tify a different sum than orlgl-
nally planned. Another is the
difference in political thinking
which may exist between the
executive and the legislative
branch of the government. anc
the third is the pressure from the
public which may result IN ad
ditions and deletions from the
original plan of the Bureau. The
great popular demand for econ
omy in 1857 resulted in some
deletions being made. The ever
stronger public insistance IN 1891
that the government spend oul
way out of the recession contrl
buted to increased appropriations
in this most recent congressional
session.
New Faces for Old
. The gears of Congress, idle 10
several months will begin t
| mash shortly. Meanwhile SOM
overhauling and modernizatlon /
t called for. Pages, attendants, EN-
: ployees, as we'll as members o
, Congress, will need to be pre-
: pared to operate as smoothly a
/ in the past. In the next few week
the Government Printing Offic
: presses will begin printing di
r rectory, and pictures of all mem
r bers Of Congress. Shortly afte
, Congress begins its deliberatlon!
: a biographical directory is print
ed which indicates vital statistic.
committee assignments and othe
g pertinent data about the ne,
Y Congress. Neither of these docu
! ments is intended for general dir
o tribution although copies may b
= purchased from the Superinter
dent of Documents.
The new member also submit
y COPY Of his signature to b
t Incorporated into the franked er
S velopes which will be in read
t ness for him. His office space
3 assigned on the basis of seniorit
: and lot, and the neophyts can ea
q pect the smallest and most RI
mote accommodations.