Despite the proffered objective of the “Budget Reform Act” or HB 7202 of “strengthening Congress’ power of the purse”, it has failed to excise current practices which derogate the plenary authority of the Congress to appropriate public funds.

The following practices which defeat the legislature’s power of the purse still subsist in the bill:

1. Automatic appropriations;

2. Use of savings;

3. Impoundment of approved appropriations; and

4. Lump sum appropriations.

All of these practices impugn the authority of the Congress to specifically appropriate the expenditure of inordinately huge amounts of funds.

Automatic appropriations shield from the congressional scalpel and imprimatur payment of debt service, among others.

Use of savings grants the Executive widest discretion of spending public funds without specific and prior appropriation from the Congress.

Impounding of approved appropriations in the General Appropriations Act by the President subverts the congressional power of the purse and makes more ascendant the Executive power to disburse or not to disburse.

Lump sum appropriations are virtual sequestration of funds for the exclusive disbursement of the Executive without appropriate particularization from the Legislature.

EDCEL C. LAGMAN