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YOUR
CONGRESSMAN
REPORTS
Br Rtt Ffu'r P. Harritnr Washington—It now is possible to view a fairly complete picture of the appropriations voted by this ^ first session of the 86th Congress, '"‘which is drawing to a close.
It will be recalled that Congress. in each year of his tenure to date, has provided less money through appropriation, than Pres.dent Eisenhower requested in -his basic and supplemental budget estimates. We pointed out in this space last vveelc that a total of appropriation bills does not measurefully the spending activity of Congress In a particular year. There must be taken into account, in addition. the ‘'public debt transaction”, whereby a federal agency is authorized to- borrow from the Treasury to start or etpand a costlv program. There is. too. the authonization to enter into contracts, or commitments tfint amount t > contracts. In such situations. Congress has.no freedom to or not to ,appropriate at a later t.me. when the bills under such commitments come due. The credit of the United States already has been pledged.
Keeping in mind, therefore, this spending “outside thei budge.t” which should be curbed by tightened fiscal procedures., the action (.n appropriation b ILs still lV im• portant as a gauge to the bulk of public funds voted by Congress in a given year. Each year, the Appropriations Committees of Coi> grrss receive from the President the thick budget document, which thev break down by departments and agencies, and on the basis of which they prepare the regular appropriation bills for the fiscal year beginning July 1 of the calendar year. During the early part of
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