Balanced Budget Accountability Act This bill requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), upon adoption by a chamber of Congress of a concurrent budget resolution for a fiscal year, to certify to the Speaker of the House of Representatives or the President pro tempore of the Senate whether that chamber has adopted a balanced budget. Balanced budget means a concurrent budget resolution providing that for FY2033 and each succeeding fiscal year to which the resolution applies total outlays do not exceed total receipts and are not more than 18% of the projected domestic product for such fiscal year. The bill requires the salary of Members of Congress to be held in escrow if OMB determines a chamber has not adopted a balanced budget for FY2024 before April 16, 2023, and for FY2025 before April 16, 2024. The bill also provides for the release of these funds to the Members. Beginning in FY2026, if OMB does not certify that a chamber has adopted a balanced budget before April 16 of the prior fiscal year, each Member of that chamber shall be paid at the rate of $1 annually for pay periods after that date in the same calendar year. The bill also requires that legislation in either chamber to increase revenue be agreed upon by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the Members of that chamber.
Impact
The act would significantly shift how budgets are approached in Congress, as it ties the financial well-being of its members to the responsibility of passing a balanced budget. Specifically, it introduces a painful consequence for failure to act, which may encourage swifter legislative processes regarding fiscal policy. The structure of the bill is designed to create a sense of urgency for achieving a balanced budget, compelling lawmakers to prioritize budget resolutions over other legislative business to avoid personal financial penalties.
Summary
SB6, known as the Balanced Budget Accountability Act, aims to enforce fiscal discipline among members of Congress by imposing salary reductions if they fail to adopt a balanced federal budget. The bill requires the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to certify whether a chamber of Congress has passed a budget resolution that meets the standards of a balanced budget, defined as one where total outlays do not exceed total receipts and are capped at 18% of the projected domestic product for the fiscal year. If a chamber does not adopt such a budget by certain deadlines, members' salaries would be temporarily held in escrow or reduced to $1 annually in subsequent years.
Contention
Some lawmakers may view the provisions of SB6 as excessively punitive, questioning the fairness of linking congressional pay to budgetary decisions. Critics may argue that this approach could lead to hasty or poor fiscal policies, where the pressure to achieve a balanced budget blurs the lines between responsible governance and the potential for manipulating figures to meet technical definitions. As such, the bill has sparked discussions regarding the balance between accountability and the flexibility required for effective governance.
Related bill
No Budget, No Pay Act This bill withholds the salaries of Members of a chamber of Congress that has not agreed to a budget resolution for FY2024 by April 15, 2023, as required by the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Salaries are withheld from April 16, 2023, until the earlier of (1) the day on which the chamber of Congress agrees to a budget resolution, or (2) the last day of the 118th Congress.
No Budget, No Pay Act This bill withholds the salaries of Members of a chamber of Congress that has not agreed to a budget resolution for FY2024 by April 15, 2023, as required by the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Salaries are withheld from April 16, 2023, until the earlier of (1) the day on which the chamber of Congress agrees to a budget resolution, or (2) the last day of the 118th Congress.
Inaction Has Consequences Act This bill withholds the salaries of Members of a chamber of Congress that has not passed each of the annual appropriations bills before the beginning of the fiscal year, beginning with FY2024. Salaries are released on the earlier of (1) the date on which the chamber of Congress passes the bills, or (2) the last day of the Congress.
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting total outlays for a fiscal year from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year unless Congress authorizes the excess by a two-thirds roll call vote of each chamber. The amendment also requires the President to submit an annual budget in which total outlays for the fiscal year do not exceed total receipts. Congress may waive the requirements for any fiscal year in which (1) a declaration of war is in effect by a roll call vote, or (2) a declaration of a natural disaster or a national emergency is in effect that was declared by a joint resolution that became law after being adopted by a majority of each chamber of Congress.
An original concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2025 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2034.
No Pay Raise for Congress Act This bill cancels the automatic adjustment to the pay of Members of Congress that is based on the employment cost index if the Congressional Budget Office determines that there was a federal budget deficit in the last fiscal year.
A concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2026 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2027 through 2035.
A concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2026 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2027 through 2035.
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to prohibit Members of Congress from receiving compensation during a fiscal year unless both Houses of Congress have agreed to a concurrent resolution on the budget for that fiscal year prior to the beginning of that fiscal year.
This joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that prohibits total outlays for any fiscal year from exceeding total receipts for that fiscal year.The amendment also prohibits (1) increases to the federal debt limit, and (2) a bill that increases revenue from becoming law unless the bill has been approved by two-thirds of each chamber of Congress with a roll call vote.
Inaction Has Consequences Act This bill withholds the salaries of Members of a chamber of Congress that has not passed each of the annual appropriations bills before the beginning of the fiscal year, beginning with FY2024. Salaries are released on the earlier of (1) the date on which the chamber of Congress passes the bills, or (2) the last day of the Congress.
Citizen Legislature Anti-Corruption Reform of Congress Act or the CLEAN Congress Act This bill (1) requires bills, orders, resolutions, or votes submitted by Congress to the President to include only one subject that is clearly and descriptively expressed in the measure's title; and (2) makes ineffective any provision of law that excludes its application to a Member of Congress or to an employee in a Member's office.
Citizen Legislature Anti-Corruption Reform of Congress Act or the CLEAN Congress Act This bill (1) requires bills, orders, resolutions, or votes submitted by Congress to the President to include only one subject that is clearly and descriptively expressed in the measure's title; and (2) makes ineffective any provision of law that excludes its application to a Member of Congress or to an employee in a Member's office.