H.R.2297 - Taxpayer-Funded Union Time Transparency Act (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.2297, the Taxpayer-Funded Union Time Transparency Act, mandates that federal agencies annually report to Congress and the public detailed information regarding official time authorized for federal employees' union activities. This includes costs, purposes, employee details, and expenses related to collective bargaining and dispute resolution. The bill also requires the Comptroller General to audit agency accounting practices related to these reports.
Expected Effects
The primary effect of this bill would be increased transparency regarding the use of taxpayer funds for union activities within federal agencies. This increased transparency could lead to greater scrutiny of these activities and potentially influence future negotiations and agreements. It may also impact the relationship between federal agencies and labor organizations.
Potential Benefits
- Increased transparency in government spending related to union activities.
- Potential for more informed decision-making by Congress regarding federal agency budgets and labor relations.
- Greater accountability for federal agencies in managing official time and related expenses.
- Provides the public with detailed information on how taxpayer dollars are used for union-related activities.
- May lead to more efficient use of resources within federal agencies.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Increased administrative burden on federal agencies to collect and report the required data.
- Potential for politicization of the data and its use in labor negotiations.
- Possible chilling effect on legitimate union activities due to increased scrutiny.
- May create an adversarial relationship between agencies and labor organizations.
- The cost of compliance and audits could offset some of the savings achieved through increased efficiency.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The bill's requirement for federal agencies to report information to Congress aligns with Congress's power of the purse and its oversight responsibilities, as implied by Article I, Section 9, Clause 7, which states that "No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time." The bill does not appear to infringe upon any specific constitutional rights or limitations.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).