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Backdoor spending authority (view source)
Revision as of 04:06, January 13, 2013
, 04:06, January 13, 2013→Origins and issues: Big difference between "authorities" and "authorizations" - Almost all appropriations are also subject to separate "authorization" legislation.
==Origins and issues==
==Origins and issues==
Originally created by a parliamentary ruling of the House of Representatives in 1949, "backdoor spending" devices have been held not to constitute appropriations. The ruling permitted legislative committees, which are specifically prohibited from handling appropriations matters, to authorize agencies to obtain funds via the "backdoor" method. In some cases these spending authorizations do not come before the appropriations committees for review.<ref>[http://taxfoundation.org/sites/taxfoundation.org/files/docs/pn51-2.pdf pp. 13-14 pdf]. </ref>
Originally created by a parliamentary ruling of the House of Representatives in 1949, "backdoor spending" devices have been held not to constitute appropriations. The ruling permitted legislative committees, which are specifically prohibited from handling appropriations matters, to authorize agencies to obtain funds via the "backdoor" method. In some cases these spending authorities do not come before the appropriations committees for review.<ref>[http://taxfoundation.org/sites/taxfoundation.org/files/docs/pn51-2.pdf pp. 13-14 pdf]. </ref>
*One type of backdoor is contract authority which permits an agency to obligate funds in advance of appropriations. The matter comes before the appropriations committees only when money is needed to liquidate the obligation, too late for them to exercise any meaningful control.
*One type of backdoor is contract authority which permits an agency to obligate funds in advance of appropriations. The matter comes before the appropriations committees only when money is needed to liquidate the obligation, too late for them to exercise any meaningful control.
The Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 originally was intended to limit and reform backdoor authority, by requiring new spending authorities or entitlements to go through the appropriations process.<ref>http://www.gao.gov/assets/210/202440.html</ref><ref>http://appropriations.house.gov/about/</ref>
The Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 originally was intended to limit and reform backdoor authority, by requiring new spending authorities or entitlements to go through the appropriations process.<ref>http://www.gao.gov/assets/210/202440.html</ref><ref>http://appropriations.house.gov/about/</ref>
==See also==
==See also==