GOP Leaders May Press for Two-Year Budget Deal

Republicans appear to be sitting in the catbird seat in terms of negotiations with the Democrats to raise the government’s debt limit. GOP leaders may ask the White House for substantial reform of the budget process in exchange for their support to lift the debt ceiling, The Hill reports.

That could include changing to a two-year budget, rather than going year by year. Congress has been discussing that possibility for more than 10 years.

Backers of the idea maintain it will keep Congress from worrying constantly about spending deadlines, allowing it to concentrate more on oversight issues instead. Many of the spending deadlines are observed only in the breech anyway.

House Speaker John Boehner has voted for a two-year budget in the past.