Overview
Title
To prohibit the payment of the salaries of the President and members of the cabinet if the President fails to submit the annual budget to Congress before the first Monday in February of any year, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
The bill says if the President doesn't send the country's money plans to Congress on time in February, the President and important officials won't get their paychecks until later in the year. This rule would start with the money plans for 2025 and keep going every year.
Summary AI
H.R. 7614, known as the “Presidential Budget Accountability Act,” is a bill introduced in the House of Representatives. The bill aims to withhold the salaries of the President and cabinet members if the President fails to submit the annual budget to Congress by the first Monday in February, as required by law. If the budget is not submitted on time, the President’s salary would be placed in escrow from February 6 to May 6 and released only after this period. This measure would start with the budget submission for the fiscal year 2025 and apply to all subsequent years.
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AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The proposed legislation, titled the “Presidential Budget Accountability Act,” seeks to enforce stricter accountability on the U.S. President and senior executive officials regarding the timely submission of the annual federal budget. It mandates that if the President fails to submit the budget to Congress by the first Monday in February, the salaries of the President and cabinet members would be withheld. Specifically, their compensation would be held in escrow from February 6 to May 6 until the submission is completed. This legislation applies to fiscal year 2025 and onwards.
Significant Issues
One of the primary issues with this bill is its potential conflict with constitutional provisions. The Constitution's Article II, Section 1, Clause 7 states that the President's compensation cannot be altered during the period of their term. Withholding and escrow arrangements, as proposed, might be viewed as indirect alterations to compensation, potentially leading to legal challenges. The punitive nature of escrowing the President’s salary might also be seen as constitutionally questionable.
Additionally, the bill defines "senior official" narrowly as members of the President's cabinet, excluding other high-ranking officials who contribute significantly to budget planning. This could limit the legislation's effectiveness in ensuring accountability.
The language used in the bill, particularly regarding financial penalties, is complex and may be difficult for the general public to understand. Simpler language could improve clarity and accessibility.
Potential Impact on the Public and Stakeholders
Broadly, the bill aims to enforce fiscal responsibility, potentially benefiting the public by ensuring timely budget submissions, which can lead to more stable governmental operations and financial planning. However, the approach taken—specifically withholding salaries—might result in public controversies and could detract attention from substantial budgetary issues.
For the President and cabinet members, the bill imposes a direct financial consequence for missing deadlines, potentially incentivizing timely submissions. However, it could also foster an atmosphere of coercion that detracts from collaborative governance. The narrow scope of affected officials—only cabinet members—might not address systemic issues within the budget preparation process, thereby limiting impact.
On a broader level, if legal challenges arise from this bill’s enforcement, they could result in significant political and judicial debates, diverting attention and resources from budgetary and policy concerns.
In conclusion, while the "Presidential Budget Accountability Act" endeavors to enhance fiscal accountability, it raises substantial constitutional and practical concerns that warrant careful consideration. Its impacts on governmental process efficiency and stakeholder engagement hinge significantly on its implementation and any resultant legal interpretations.
Issues
The provision to withhold presidential and senior officials' pay if the budget is not submitted on time (Section 2) could create a conflict with the constitutional provision regarding presidential compensation, potentially leading to legal challenges.
Escrowing the President's compensation (Section 2(b)) may be seen as punitive and might raise legal challenges or constitutional concerns, warranting further examination of its legality and potential consequences.
The limited definition of 'senior official' to members of the President's cabinet (Section 2(a)) might exclude other high-ranking officials involved in budget preparation, possibly undermining the bill's effectiveness.
The language regarding financial penalties (Section 2) is complex and might be difficult for the general public to understand, suggesting a need for simplification to enhance clarity and accessibility.
The application of the Act starting from fiscal year 2025 onwards (Section 2(c)) might affect budget planning timelines and processes, necessitating careful consideration of transitional measures.
The lack of alternative measures or contingencies in place if the budget submission deadline is missed (Section 2) could lead to issues in addressing unforeseen circumstances, reducing the bill's adaptability.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of the Presidential Budget Accountability Act gives a short title to the legislation, allowing it to be easily referred to by this name.
2. Prohibition on pay for President and senior Executive branch officials if President’s budget not submitted on time Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
If the President of the United States does not submit the annual budget to Congress by the first Monday in February, both the President and senior Executive branch officials, like cabinet members, will not receive their pay during a specified period between February 6 and May 6 until the budget is submitted. The President's pay during this time will be held in an escrow account and released afterward, in compliance with constitutional requirements.