Congressman Dennis Ross (R-FL) has introduced the Zero-Based Budgeting Ensures Responsible Oversight Act (ZERO Act) which would require agency and department managers to justify and approve every line item on their budget each year, rather than just make slight changes to the previous year’s budget.
The ZERO Act would require every department and agency of the federal government to:
- Provide a description of each activity that requires an appropriation from Congress
- Cite to Congress the legal basis under which they may lawfully receive an appropriation
- Offer three alternative funding levels
- Provide a summary of the cost effectiveness and efficiency to the taxpayer for each activity that requires an appropriation from Congress
“With $16 trillion of debt, we must take all measures possible to eliminate egregious government spending and ensure that hard-earned taxpayer dollars are spent wisely,” said Ross. “The Zero-Based Budgeting Ensures Responsible Oversight Act will require agency and department managers to justify every line on their budget each year.”
