House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) has proposed a new plan to streamline the current system under which some committees provide funding for unrelated federal departments and agencies. The proposed changes are said to be intended to reflect Republican priorities.

As part of the plan, one Appropriations subcommittee would have jurisdiction over regulatory agencies, another would review funding for personnel accounts and a third panel would consider spending on quality of life in the military.

While many do believe the current subcommittee structure has many anomalies, some have criticized Leader DeLay's plan to put the personnel budgets of every agency under a single subcommittee. The plan will certainly face obstacles in the Senate.

Long tradition is that changes of the Appropriations panels are rarely made. It is easier to negotiate the 13 spending bills if the House and Senate subcommittee jurisdictions match.

Although no one expects Leader DeLay's plan to be approved, it seems his motive may have been to shake people up so that some moderate changes could be made.