#Budget Process

In recent days, there have been questions raised about the credibility of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). This is likely a pre-emptive rebuttal in case CBO produces politically problematic estimates of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) -- the House GOP proposal…

In considering budget plans for the coming fiscal year, President Trump and lawmakers should keep in mind that under current law the federal government is already on track to run up deficits of nearly nine and a half trillion dollars,…

An amazing thing happened in Washington recently. With the total national debt about to top $20 trillion and on an unsustainable long-term path, 376 members of the House of Representatives voted for one of two Fiscal Year 2017 budget resolutions…

In the midst of a “bleak” time for the nation’s long-term finances, Phil LaRue, The Concord Coalition’s director of government relations, recently noted three small signs of fiscal life in Washington.The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the Social Security and…

Lawmakers continued to struggle with 2017 spending legislation before their Memorial Day recess began, with the House last week overwhelmingly rejecting a measure for energy and water programs that GOP leaders had supported. Democrats and Republicans blamed each other for…

A pair of Republicans on the House Rules Committee recently discussed proposals to alter the rules for the consideration of spending bills. The effort drew attention – and opposition – from Rules Committee Democrats and Appropriations Committee Republicans alike. (more…)

U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci (R-Ohio) introduced a constructive resolution last week to better enforce congressional rules against fiscally irresponsible legislation. The Budget Enforcement Awareness Resolution would make it harder for House lawmakers to waive budget-related “points of order,” which are…

House Speaker Paul Ryan is urging Republican lawmakers to respect the 2017 spending levels set in last fall’s budget deal, but continuing opposition from some conservatives has raised the possibility that Congress might not pass a budget resolution this year.…