by jpitney | Feb 11, 2021 | Budget, Congress
Zachary Courser and Kevin R. Kosar have an AEI report titled “Restoring the power of the purse: Earmarks and re-empowering legislators to deliver local benefits” Key Points Article I of the US Constitution gives Congress the authority to decide the amount...
by jpitney | Feb 7, 2021 | Budget, Congress, Oversight
From First Branch Forecast: For decades, Congress has undercut its ability to meet its Constitution obligations by providing itself inadequate resources to meet its legislative, constitutional, and oversight responsibilities. Discretionary Executive branch resources,...
by jpitney | Dec 28, 2020 | Budget, Congress, Debt, Economic Policy
Scott Newsome at LegBranch.org on reforming the Congressional Budget Act (CBA): First, section 310(a) of the CBA, which outlines the reconciliation process, is currently silent on the issue of whether it can be used to increase or decrease deficits. This leaves that...
by jpitney | Dec 2, 2020 | Appropriations, Budget, Congress
Tim Roemer and Rep. Derek Kilmer at The Hill: Nowhere is the need for effective lawmaking more apparent than the budget and appropriations process. Article I gives Congress alone the “power of the purse.” This is arguably one of the body’s most essential...
by jpitney | Oct 3, 2020 | Budget, Congress, House of Representatives
Molly E. Reynonds at The Washington Post: It is increasingly hard for members of Congress to use the appropriations process to achieve their legislative goals. In recent years, party leaders — often but not always working with pivotal committee chairs — have become...
by jpitney | Jul 11, 2020 | Budget, Congress, Deliberation
From a broad coalition of groups: Dear Chair Lowey, Chair Shelby, Ranking Member Granger, Ranking Member Leahy, and Members of the Committees on Appropriations: We urge you to increase the funding available for the Legislative Branch by 10% as you determine...
