While often disagreeing with Jim Fossel, I always applaud his reasoned approach to public policy. His column on March 27 (“A worthy fight for the right: Budget reform,” Page D1), about continuing resolutions, is wonderful and should have gone further, much further. Since 1970, when I served as research director for a Republican congressional candidate, I’ve been appalled by congressional shenanigans, including the practice of continuing resolutions.
A step toward a solution – while a fantasy because the sitting congresspeople will never vote for it – is to move to a two-year budget system. Having to pass trillion-dollar spending bills every year is far too taxing (so to speak) on Congress, even with the hordes of staff people. A two-year budget gives Congress something of an opportunity to reflect and the agencies it funds a reliance on secure funding for at least two years.
Chalmers Hardenbergh
Freeport
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