A Tale of Two Deadlines
As lawmakers return to Washington this week, they will be brushing up against two crucial but very different deadlines at the end of September:
Analysis & Indicators
The Broken Budget Process Should Be Refocused on Long-Term Planning
September 21, 2017The official federal budget process was established in 1974 by the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act. In practice, the process prescribed by the law has never been followed to the letter, and in recent years it’s been abandoned almost entirely. The broken budget process has resulted in policymakers applying quick fixes to avert artificial crises such as government shutdowns instead of making strategic long-term decisions.
Voting on Health Care Bill Without CBO Score is Highly Problematic
September 19, 2017Republican lawmakers are trying to rapidly pass a bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) through the Senate prior to the end of the fiscal year (Sept.
The Sudden (and Regrettable) Demise of the CBO
September 22, 2017US News & World Report
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Federal Budget
Fiscal Responsibility
The Congressional Budget Office is no stranger to criticism.
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The Broken Budget Process Should Be Refocused on Long-Term Planning
September 21, 2017The official federal budget process was established in 1974 by the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act. In practice, the process prescribed by the law has never been followed to the letter, and in recent years it’s been abandoned almost entirely. The broken budget process has resulted in policymakers applying quick fixes to avert artificial crises such as government shutdowns instead of making strategic long-term decisions.
Mandatory Spending Growth Means the Budget Debate is Increasingly Focused on a Shrinking Part of the Budget
September 18, 2017Federal spending can be divided into three main categories. The first category is mandatory spending, which is spending that operates on autopilot based on benefit formulas approved by lawmakers in years past. Mandatory spending makes up about two-thirds of the budget and includes major entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare.
Why the National Debt Just Hit $20 Trillion
September 13, 2017On Sept. 8 the national debt increased by over $300 billion, surpassing $20 trillion for the first time in history -- a symbolic reminder of the federal government’s flawed fiscal policy. But how exactly did we get to this point, and why was there such a sharp increase in a single day?