McConnell adds budget expert to Senate team

Incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has hired a federal budget expert to join his leadership staff as a policy adviser next year.  

Jon Burks, who currently works as the House Budget Committee’s policy director, will be responsible for budget and appropriations issues in McConnell’s office.

Before joining the Budget panel in 2007, Burks held senior policy positions at the Treasury Department and Securities and Exchange Commission.

{mosads}He previously worked for President George W. Bush as a policy adviser and assistant to Vice President Dick Cheney.

Burks also served as a policy adviser to 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign.

He will replace Denzel McGuire, who was recently hired by the Grocery Manufacturers Association. 

Top GOP lawmakers, including McConnell, have talked about the need for a new budget blueprint next year and taking advantage of the budget reconciliation process to possibly roll back ObamaCare.

McConnell also spoke recently about wanting to return to regular order in the appropriations process and pass individual government spending bills instead of comprehensive packages. 

Congress last week, for example, passed the “cromnibus” spending measure that encompassed 11 appropriations bills and one continuing resolution.