—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 6, 1973 26 Toward the end of the 92nd Congress there was a debate over enacting a Budget ceiling that would be controlled by the President. Out of that debate grew a real question about the ability of Congress to keep the Federal Budget under control. As the 93rd Congress opens it looks as though that question may be answered with some solid proposals for changing the ap propriations process and wat ching the spending process. The intent of these proposals is to put Congress back in the driver’s seat when it comes to Federal money matters. Senator Bill Brock of Ten nessee has offered a five-point plan for reforming the budgetary process that makes a good deal of sense His proposals are aimed at getting some congressional control over Federal spending while at the same time constantly reviewing and changing our national priorities First, he would create a Joint Committee on the Budget that would develop a legislative budget - as opposed to the executive budget that is now the only comprehensive spending proposal. Second, Senator Brock would require five-year budget projections in every major category of Federal spending This would make Congree think m terms of the long-range cost of the programs being proposed. Third, a re-evaluation of spending programs would be required every three years Such a review would help to weed out programs that have outlived their usefulness or those that have proved unworkable. Fourth, there would be a requirement that every new major program be pilot tested for at least two years The testing process would give us an in dication of how much cost is actually involved and, more importantly, whether the Idea will work at all. Fifth, Senator Brock would have all Federal money, in cluding that in the trust funds, appropriated annually. Presently, many of the trust funds escape annual review yet add to the deficit and spending problems that have plagues the Budget. Whether some or all of the Brock proposals get adopted will very much depend on the determination of the 93rd Congress to get a grip on Federal spending. At the very least, this five-point plan offers a starting place for some thinking in the right direction. Along this same line, I plan to re-introduce my proposal to put all controllers in the Federal Government under the jurisdiction of Congress. The controller is the guy who makes daily decisions about how money is being spent by a particular government agency. Wide he is responsible to the agency, his determinations will favor it. But if he became a legislative em ployee, his determinations would reflect Congressional intent. Therefore, Congress would gam a day-to-day insight and input into all government spending There would be a pre audit of all spending and not just a post-audit. Pre-auditing would mean that spending would be looked at before it took place rather than after it had already been spent and possibly wasted. Still other ideas for getting some legislative control of the Budget are almost certain to be put forward I, for one, will welcome all proposals because nothing has been done for far too long Survey Says Industry Is Towns’ No. 1 Need The need for new industry is the most important prob lem facing small communi ties, according to a survey conducted by the American Bankers Association, Wash ington, D.C. In the survey of 12,500 smaller banks (those with re sources of less than $5O mil lion) nearly 75 per cent of the respondents rated new in dustry as the number one community need. And 80 per cent of the bankers said they are involved in trying to foster new industry for their towns. “For each 100 people em ployed by industries in our community, retail trade goes up $1.3 million, personal in come goes up $2.9 million,” says Thomas R. Smith, chair man of the ABA’s Agricul tural and Community Banker Division, and president of the First National Bank, Perry, lowa. “It also means five new retail businesses,” he said. k * ♦ Matador to Aroma Fresh ambergris from whales is soft, black in color and has a disagreeable odor, but when dried xt develops a pleasing fragrance prized as a perfume and drug. MUNCY CHIEF HYBRID SEEDS LANCASTER SILOS Starline Labor Savers Feed Lot Construction SALES & SERVICE J. Samuel Sharer Mt. JoyK.2 Phone 717-683-5207 0T717-653-S2M Looking for the latest in Farm Mechanization Equipment? We are dealers for... READ UNCASTER FARMING FOR FULL MARKET REPORTS BUTLER FEED & GRAIN TANKS BUTLER FARM BUILDINGS CARDINAL AUGERING EQUIPMENT CLAY EQUIPMENT KITSON POULTRY EQUIPMENT • Premier Peat Moss • Stirrals • Stariine • Nelson • Daisy • Warner FARM SHOW for Early Bird Discount on Butler "Oldest & Top Butler Dealer in the East" M. K. hOKE ESI., INC Manheim, Penna. 17545 PHONE: 717-665-2266 Serving the farm Industry for over 60 Years See us at the
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