(a)      The General Assembly finds that State expenditures for operating and capital programs must be controlled so that the level of State spending is consistent with the economic growth of the State.

      (b)      (1)      The control of spending shall be exercised through the budgetary process as well as through legislative oversight and program review.

            (2)      The budget focuses on spending for the next fiscal year and provides careful scrutiny of new programs or expansion of existing programs and services and weighs the incremental cost of the State budget in light of the priority needs of the citizens.

            (3)      Legislative oversight seeks to eliminate inefficiencies in governmental activities and to evaluate programs in order to eliminate those no longer required and to avoid overlap and duplication of services and activities.

      (c)      (1)      The Legislative Policy Committee shall be responsible for coordinating the spending affordability program of the General Assembly by appointment of a Spending Affordability Committee and by selection of program evaluation projects and direction of oversight activities.

            (2)      The goal of the spending affordability program is to limit the rate of growth of State spending to a level that does not exceed the rate of growth of the State's economy.