Changing the Budget Process to Promote Fiscal Responsibility

This event is the third of a four-part series, "How the Debt Committee Can Significantly Improve Our Fiscal Course." Don't miss the other three events addressing fundamental tax reform, budget reform, and spending reform.

Many point to the past months’ rancorous debates and subsequent credit downgrade as an indication the federal budget process is “broken.” But if its principle aim is to control spending, has it ever really worked?

Please join the Mercatus Center for an in-depth expert panel discussion grounded in academic literature and practical know-how on the reforms necessary to ensure a budget process that reliably drives sound fiscal choices and credible spending control, in both the near and long term.

The discussion will focus on the following questions:

• What are the key weaknesses of the current federal budget process? 
• How and why have most past process reforms failed, and how should new budget rules be designed and enforced to ensure effectiveness? 
• What reforms could be immediately enacted to direct real near-term spending reform? 
• What is necessary to ensure medium and long-term spending reforms actually materialize? 

This event is free and open to all congressional, executive branch, and federal agency staff, as well as the media. This event is not open to the general public. Due to space constraints, please no interns without prior approval. Food will be provided. For any questions, please contact Julie Burden at jburden2@gmu.edu or 703-344-3219.