House, Senate Budget Committee leaders introduce evidence-based policymaking

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), who brokered the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, are back at it, recently proposing bipartisan legislation to change how Washington evaluates the effectiveness of federal programs and tax expenditures.

The veteran lawmakers proposed the Evidence-Based Policymaking Commission Act of 2014 on Tuesday, which would create a 15-member commission to improve data used in evaluating spending and tax programs.

“We want to change the focus in Washington,” Ryan, who is the House Budget Committee chairman, said. “Instead of putting the focus on effort, we want to put the focus on results. This commission will help us learn how to use data to make better policy.”

Members of the commission would represent economics, statistics and data security fields. Three members would be appointed by the majority and minority leaders in the Senate, the majority and minority leaders in the House and by the president. The commission would hire a director and staff.

A commission report would be due no later than 15 months after the majority of committee members were appointed. Seventy-five percent of the commission would have to approve the report.

“The families and communities we represent deserve a government that works for them and delivers results,” Murray, who chairs the Senate Budget Committee, said. “I’m proud to have partnered with Chairman Ryan on this legislation, which would take an important step toward strengthening our understanding of how government investments, from programs to spending in our tax code, can better serve all Americans.”