The House Committee on Government Reform has said in its
report on the fiscal 2007 budget that it intends to
work with the administration on legislation establishing
independent commissions to review federal programs to
recommend changes or that they be scrapped altogether.
HR-3276, the government reorganization and improvement
of performance act, would set up a “results commission”
to study and make recommendations to improve executive
branch operations and organization.
The committee said the bill is necessary to improve
accountability. The commission’s recommendations would
be submitted to Congress and considered under expedited
procedures.
HR-3277, the federal agency performance review and sunset
act, would establish a “sunset commission,” that could
periodically recommend that programs considered to be
under-performing be shut down, and require Congress to
step in and reauthorize them.
“After all,” the report said, “Congress never has and
never will be a management body; Congress cannot be
expected to make management decisions to improve the
operations and effectiveness of the executive branch.”