In its fiscal 2008 budget proposal, the White House endorsed plans to create bipartisan Results Commissions and a Sunset Commission. Similar proposals have circulated in Congress in recent years, pushed mainly by the Republican then-leaders of the House Government Reform Committee.
Under the budget proposal, Results Commissions would consider ways to restructure or consolidate programs or agencies where duplication or overlapping jurisdiction has been identified as an obstacle to performance. Proposals from Results Commissions would be reviewed and if approved by the President, transmitted to the Congress to be considered under expedited procedures.
Similarly, a Sunset Commission would consider Presidential proposals to retain, restructure, or terminate agencies and programs according to a schedule set by the Congress. Agencies and programs would automatically terminate according to the schedule unless reauthorized by the Congress.
