Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

Budget — Federal

President’s Budget Requests $266B to Support Recovery

Some news outlets, focusing on the President’s budget request of $100 billion for a new “jobs initiative”, have reported that the budget proposes only $100 billion for temporary, economy-boosting measures. But, in addition to those funds, the budget includes $166 billion in temporary extensions of some provisions of the Recovery Act, which are contributing to economic recovery but will soon expire. Read more

Health Reform Essential For Reducing Deficit and Slowing Health Care Costs

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the Senate and House health reform bills would reduce deficits both over the decade from 2010 through 2019 and after that. Both bills also contain a wide range of measures to restructure the U.S. health system and slow the growth of health care costs, particularly Medicare costs. Read more

Related:

Greenstein on President's Budget: Statement | Podcast
Allowing High-Income Tax Cuts to Expire Would Be Sound Policy
The Right Target: Stabilizing the Federal Debt

Topics

Basics

The federal budget outlines the U.S. government’s spending plans for the coming fiscal year and how it plans to pay for that spending. The three biggest areas of federal spending in 2007 were defense and security, Social Security, and public health insurance programs, each of which made up roughly one-fifth of the budget. About 75 percent of the money used to pay for these programs came from individuals, through income and payroll taxes. Most of the rest came from business owners, though 6 percent came from borrowing.

Policy Basics:
- Where Do Our Tax Dollars Go?
- Introduction to the Federal Budget Process
- Deficits, Debt, and Interest
- Congress's "Pay-As-You-Go" Budget Rule

Featured Experts

James Horney

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Chad Stone

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Paul Van de Water

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The Center informs the debate over federal budget priorities by analyzing the President’s budget and major congressional proposals throughout the annual budget process. We pay particular attention to the adequacy of funding for programs that assist low- and moderate-income families. We also analyze long-term budget challenges and measures to address them. In addition, we promote measures to improve fiscal responsibility.