PART is a modest effort to provide lawmakers with the knowledge tomake informed and efficient budgetary decisions, and it is the onlyprogram that assesses performance across the entire federal budget.Sadly, there is no evidence that Congress has used PART to makelong-overdue reductions in the size and scope of the federalgovernment. Even so, preventing agencies from participating in thistype of analysis is irresponsible.
Just as the No Child Left Behind Act requires schools to make"adequate yearly progress" toward state education goals, now it's time for Congress to show it can make real progress toward sound fiscal policy on education.
The Bush Administration's budget for fiscal year 2004 recommendsmajor changes at the U.S. Department of Justice. Among theAdministration's proposals are that hiring grants administered bythe Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) beeliminated in FY 2004 and that overall funding for COPS be reducedto retarget funding for more urgent priorities.