One of the main reasons government is not accountable is that politicians and media oversimplify discussions about legislation. A good example is the 9/11 VCF bill. Everyone agrees government should help compensate victims of the attack, but implementing details are ignored.
Our Constitution empowers Congress to appropriate money. Typically, this means we must vote annually to spend on a particular object. This process holds government accountable to the people. The 9/11 VCF works differently by authorizing 70+ years of unlimited, automatic spending.
This bill even excludes its spending from counting under budgetary rules. Unlimited, automatic spending is convenient for current legislators, who can take one popular vote and leave fiscal consequences to future generations. No program in government should operate this way.
There are multiple better ways to structure the 9/11 VCF. The bill could require annual or biennial appropriations, ensuring that Congress prioritize and account for spending. Alternatively, Congress could fund a large, defined endowment within the budget. Let's get it done.
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