Lubbock Times

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On May 30, Shalanda Young, Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), responded to a letter from House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-TX) and Oversight Task Force Chairman Jack Bergman (R-MI). The letter addressed concerns about the Administration’s interpretation and implementation of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) of 2023’s Administrative Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) provision.

While the Committee acknowledged Director Young’s timely response, it criticized her for disregarding key information and specific questions. The Committee emphasized that this oversight neglects the importance of offsetting costly rules amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars and maintaining fiscal responsibility with taxpayer money. "This failure of acknowledgement is beyond unsettling," stated the House Budget Committee Republicans, who remain determined to press the Administration on these issues.

The Biden Administration's interpretation of Administrative PAYGO has been called into question by critics who argue that it undermines fiscal responsibility. They claim it allows for a lack of transparency and circumvents legislative oversight. According to an analysis by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, actions taken after Administrative PAYGO was supposedly in effect have increased ten-year deficits by at least $480 billion, with several hundred billion dollars more proposed in yet-to-be-finalized rules.

In their April 29 letter to OMB, House Republicans requested detailed answers to three specific questions by May 29, 2024. However, OMB only provided responses to one of these questions.

The House Budget Committee argues that OMB's lack of transparency underscores the need for H.R. 8195, known as the Strengthening Administrative PAYGO (SAP) Act. This legislation aims to clarify, strengthen, and permanently extend Administrative PAYGO provisions. H.R. 8195 was reported favorably by the House Budget Committee with a vote of 16-9 and has garnered support from various stakeholders.

As national debt and deficit levels reach unprecedented heights, House Budget Committee Republicans stress the importance of financially sound government decisions. They vow to continue highlighting unchecked Executive Branch spending and ensuring Congressional oversight over taxpayer dollars.

More information on the House Budget Committee’s efforts regarding FRA’s Administrative PAYGO provision can be found on their official channels.