Former Ohio House Speaker Bill Batchelder, now a fellow at The Buckeye Institute’s Economic Research Center, testifies to Congress today about the advantages of legislatures budgeting for two years at a time rather than just one.

Ohio has done biennial (two year) budgets since the early 1900s, and it’s helped the state avoid fiscal crises, says Batchelder, a Republican legislator for 38 years, the last four as House Speaker.

“Biennial budgets are not new, and they have withstood the test of time,” he says.

Why do they work? “Biennial budgeting offers stability and certainty, which is good for businesses and for planning,” explains Batchelder.

In addition, “Agencies that receive state spending can be more efficient because they know what their budget will be for two years. They can hear the train whistle before they get hit! They don’t have to waste resources every year on trying to get more money. Instead, they have more time to do their job in law enforcement, construction, or education.”

Batchelder is The Buckeye Institute’s inaugural Edwin Meese III Distinguished Fellow.

Ohio Senator Rob Portman is on the Senate Budget Committee that heard Batchelder’s testimony.

Read Batchelder’s full written testimony here.