New report: Does the executive branch control the power of the purse?

Molly Reynolds and Philip Wallach have a new report out over at the American Enterprise Institute about the tug-of-war over the power of the purse between Congress and the Executive Branch.

Their key points:

• Although the US Constitution gives Congress the power of the purse, today a number of laws and arrangements have empowered the executive branch to make independent spending choices.
• Congress has intentionally given the executive some spending flexibility, but it now faces the prospect of being unable to control the executive unless it makes process reforms.
• Champions of Congress’ prerogatives often turn to the courts, but even when judges rule against the executive, their remedies are of questionable efficacy. Congress should rely on its own tools to remedy this problem.

Read the full report here.