Gregg: A Fiscal Action Commission By Ex Order Will Be Toothless

Press Release

Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH), ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee and chief co-sponsor of the Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action Act of 2009 with Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND), today rejected President Obama's plan to instead use an executive order to create a bipartisan commission on the debt.

"The creation of a fiscal action commission by executive order would be like a car without an engine," said Senator Gregg. "The commission wouldn't be truly bipartisan. Without the statutory structure to guarantee an up or down vote, nothing can be accomplished. It wouldn't be able to limit amendments or require Congress to vote on any recommendations the commission might produce. The White House would have full control of the commission, and its recommendations would most likely go nowhere. This simply serves as political cover for the Democratic majority, which has done nothing but add to the debt since it took control."

Senator Gregg joined Chairman Conrad in introducing their updated Bipartisan Task Force (S. 2853) legislation in December, after originally introducing it in 2007. The Conrad-Gregg Bipartisan Task Force would create a commission of 10 Democrats and 8 Republicans from the Congress and Administration, who would be charged with making bipartisan recommendations to Congress on how to return the country to fiscal stability. These recommendations would be fast-tracked through Congress and guaranteed an up-or-down vote. Final passage would require supermajorities in both the Senate and House. In addition to Senators Conrad and Gregg, the bill currently has 32 co-sponsors.

"Numerous commissions have been created by executive order over the years, and their common thread is that none have produced any legislative results," said Senator Gregg. "How can they? No one has any real responsibility, or expectation of action, and so their recommendations collect dust on a shelf. If the President and the Democratic Congress are serious about tackling the trillion-dollar debt problems facing this country, they will enact into law a bipartisan process that will ensure real results. Only then will this country have a fighting chance of cleaning up the fiscal mess we are in."

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