Related Articles
Requiring a 72 hour budget timeout received the most votes by advocates of open government taking advantage of President Obama's interactive website focused on improving federal government transparency. According to Roll Call:
House Minority Leader John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) idea for a 72-hour public review period of major spending bills received nearly 1,000 votes on a White House Web site dedicated to opening the process of government to the general public. Just three hours before the poll closed, Boehner’s proposal had attracted 967 votes of support, more than any other idea on a Web site hosted by the National Academy of Public Administration and reached through the president's Web site, whitehouse.gov. The post had received about 170 votes against the idea . . .
In his post on the Web site, Boehner said his 72-hour review proposal which "would help to prevent taxpayer-funded outrages such as the empty ‘Airport for No One’ in the congressional district of Democratic Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) and huge bonuses for [American International Group Inc.] executives, is a reform proposal that been advocated by nonpartisan organizations such as the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a coalition of reform-minded state legislators, and the pro-transparency Sunlight Foundation.”
In his post on the Web site, Boehner said his 72-hour review proposal which "would help to prevent taxpayer-funded outrages such as the empty ‘Airport for No One’ in the congressional district of Democratic Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) and huge bonuses for [American International Group Inc.] executives, is a reform proposal that been advocated by nonpartisan organizations such as the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a coalition of reform-minded state legislators, and the pro-transparency Sunlight Foundation.”
Partnering with the Evergreen Freedom Foundation, I sponsored model language for ALEC back in 2007 based on a proposal by Congressman Brian Baird to create a 72 hour budget review period.
This transparency reform is one of WPC priorities for Washington state. From our Policy Guide:
To facilitate public involvement, the legislature should adopt a 72-hour timeout period in the legislative process once a budget, tax or spending bill is introduced or amended. This would allow lawmakers and the public a three-day period to calmly consider the two-year budget, new taxes or new spending before legislative hearings or final voting occurs.
A bill was introduced in Olympia this past session by Rep. Alexander (HB 1654) to create a five day review period for appropriation bills. Although a work session was held, no public hearing or vote occurred.
