Process
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Podcast: The Budget Reconciliation Process
September 15, 2009
The budget reconciliation process in Congress is explained by Director of Federal Fiscal Policy, Jim Horney.
Duration: 4:43
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Ryan Substitute for Statutory Pay-As-You-Go
July 22, 2009
The House of Representatives is today considering legislation (H.R. 2920, as amended by a substitute proposed by Majority Leader Steny Hoyer) that would reinstate a statutory Pay-As-You-Go rule similar to the rule that helped produce the first federal budget surpluses in decades in fiscal years 1998 through 2001. Under the … -
Podcast: Robert Greenstein Testifies Before the House Budget Committee on PAYGO Legislation
June 26, 2009
Robert Greenstein testified June 26th on why..."pay-as-you-go discipline is important, why enactment of a statutory pay-as-you-go rule to reinforce Congressional rules can be beneficial, and why enactment of a statutory pay-as-you-go rule is not itself sufficient to achieve fiscal sustainability."
Duration: 7:11
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Testimony: Robert Greenstein on the “Pay As You Go” Budget Rule
Updated June 25, 2009
Mr. Chairman, Congressman Ryan, and members of the Committee, I appreciate the opportunity to appear here today to explain why I think pay-as-you-go discipline is important, why enactment of a statutory pay-as-you-go rule to reinforce Congressional rules can be beneficial, and why enactment of a statutory pay-as-you-go rule is … -
Joint Statement: Robert Greenstein and James Horney on the President’s “Pay As You Go” Budget Proposal
June 10, 2009
President Obama’s proposal to require policymakers to fully pay for all new entitlement increases and tax cuts, rather than deficit-finance them, is an important first step to restore fiscal responsibility. Critics charge that the pay-as-you-go, or PAYGO, proposal is riddled with … -
Scoring Health Legislation
April 1, 2009
The National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation has released a new edition of Expert Voices, Scoring Health Legislation by Paul N. Van de Water, PhD, Senior Fellow, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The fate of legislative proposals in the U.S. Congress often hinges on how much they are estimated to increase or decrease the federal budget deficit. Currently, the Congressional Budget Office … -
Policy Basics: Congress's “Pay-As-You-Go” Budget Rule
March 5, 2009
The pay-as-you-go rule, also known as PAYGO, is designed to encourage Congress to offset the cost of any legislation that increases spending on entitlement programs or reduces revenues so it doesn’t expand the deficit. Under PAYGO, Congress must pay for such legislation by reducing other entitlement spending or increasing other revenues. … -
Policy Basics: Introduction to the Federal Budget Process
Updated December 17, 2008
The way Congress develops tax and spending legislation is guided by a set of specific procedures laid out in the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. The centerpiece of the Budget Act is the requirement that Congress each year develop a “budget resolution” setting aggregate limits on spending and targets for … -
Policy Points: "Tax Extenders" Bill the Latest Test of Congress's Commitment to Fiscal Discipline
June 10, 2008
“Tax extenders” legislation now before the Senate has become the latest battleground in the intensifying debate over whether Congress should abide by its “pay-as-you-go” (PAYGO) rules and pay for new tax and budget measures so they don’t expand the deficit. Opposition to abiding by PAYGO is also impeding congressional action to extend Alternative Minimum Tax relief … -
House AMT "Patch" Bill is Fiscally Responsible
November 7, 2007
Later this week, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on legislation that would “patch” the Alternative Minimum Tax for 2007 (H.R. 3996). This analysis highlights three praiseworthy features of the tax package, which was adopted by the Ways and Means Committee November 1. The cost of the package is fully offset. Its adoption by the … -
What Would It Say about Congress’s Priorities to Waive PAYGO for the AMT Patch?
November 7, 2007
In January the House of Representatives reinstated “Pay-As-You-Go” (PAYGO) budgeting rules, and in May the Senate followed suit. PAYGO requires Congress to offset the cost of any legislation that increases entitlement spending or reduces revenues. As a CBPP analysis released today explains, Congress to date has complied with the PAYGO rules.[1] Both houses of … -
Press Release: Joint Statement on the Need for Pay-As-You-Go Discipline
October 30, 2007
Issued Jointly With The four organizations joining in this statement have come together on a number of occasions in the past to express their concern about the threat that chronic deficits pose, and their support for Pay-As-You-Go rules (PAYGO) to help prevent the deficit situation from becoming worse. (See, for example, the statement of March 21, 2007 … -
House SCHIP Legislation Would Repeal Dubious “45-Percent Threshold” Provision
July 30, 2007
Legislation to extend the State Children’s Health Insurance Program and make various changes in Medicare, which the House is scheduled to consider this week, would repeal a so-called “45-Percent Threshold” provision affecting Medicare that was slipped into the 2003 Medicare prescription drug bill. Some lawmakers argue … -
Testimony: Robert Greenstein on Pay-As-You-Go Discipline Before the House Budget Committee
July 25, 2007
Chairman Spratt, Congressman Ryan, and members of the Committee, I appreciate the opportunity to appear hear today to explain why I think the pay-as-you-go discipline is important and appropriate, and why establishing a statutory pay-as-you-go rule to reinforce Congressional rules is a sound idea. My testimony will cover the following: … -
Forthcoming Medicare Trustees’ Report May Contain Dubious "Medicare Funding Warning"
April 20, 2007
While Medicare faces a serious long-term financing problem that must be addressed, the annual report of the Social Security and Medicare trustees to be released on April 23 may contain a dubious “Medicare Funding Warning” that is based on a deeply misleading measure of the program’s health. Under a last-minute provision slipped … -
The Alternative Minimum Tax, The President's Budget, and the Congressional Budget Resolutions
March 28, 2007
This week, the House of Representatives will consider the budget resolution that the House Budget Committee approved March 22. The House Budget Committee plan adheres to the Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) budget rules that have been in force in the House since January. These rules require that the cost of any legislation that increases entitlement spending or reduces revenue be offset. … -
Key Argument Against Applying Pay-As-You-Go To Tax Cuts Does Not Withstand Scrutiny
March 22, 2007
In early January the House of Representatives instituted a “pay-as-you-go” rule, under which entitlement expansions and tax cuts — including the extension of expiring provisions of law that expand entitlement programs or cut taxes — must be paid for through offsetting entitlement reductions or tax increases. (PAYGO rules do not … -
Joint Statement on the Need for Pay-As-You-Go Discipline
March 21, 2007
Co-Authors Morgan Broman 202-296-5860 morgan.broman@ced.org Tristan Cohen 703-894-6222 communications@concord.org Jerry Irvine 202-986-2700 irvine@newamerica.net The four organizations joining in this statement have warned that large, chronic budget … -
Economic Effects of the Pay-As-You-Go Rule
March 19, 2007
The budget resolution approved March 15 by the Senate Budget Committee would reinstate in the Senate the Pay-As-You-Go budget rule that was in force during the 1990s. (The House of Representatives reintroduced the PAYGO rule several months ago.) PAYGO requires that the costs of any legislation that increases entitlement spending or decreases revenues be offset. Thus, if adhered … -
The New Pay-As-You-Go Rule in The House of Representatives
January 12, 2007
On January 5 the House of Representatives adopted a “Pay-As-You-Go” or PAYGO Rule as part of its package of Rules for the 110th Congress.[1] This memorandum briefly describes the rule and includes some “questions and answers” about how it is intended to work. Summary of the PAYGO Rule. The new House PAYGO rule establishes a point of order in the House of … -
Factsheet: Expanded Presidential Power under Senate “Line-Item Veto” Unlikely To Improve Fiscal Discipline
January 10, 2007
In the 109th Congress, the Republican-controlled Senate Budget Committee approved the Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 2006, a variation of an Administration proposal, as part of a larger budget process bill (S. 3521). Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) intends to offer that line-item veto proposal … -
Statement by James Horney, Director of Federal Fiscal Policy on Reinstatement of the Pay-As-You-Go Rule
January 5, 2007
Today’s House vote to reinstate the pay-as-you-go rule marks a significant and welcome first step in restoring the fiscal discipline that has been sorely lacking in Washington. During the 1990s, a similar pay-as-you-go rule proved to be an important tool in turning deficits into surpluses.… -
Reinstatement of Pay-As-You-Go is a Welcome Step Toward Fiscal Responsibility
December 20, 2006
House and Senate Democratic leaders have pledged to reinstate the “Pay-As-You-Go” rule early in the 110th Congress. Such a rule, which was in effect in the 1990s, helps to enforce fiscal discipline by requiring that any tax cut or increase in entitlement spending be offset by an increase in other taxes or reduction in other entitlement … -
House Proposal to Reform Earmarks Employs Double Standard, Largely Exempting Earmarks Packaged as Special Interest Tax Breaks
September 14, 2006
The House is about to consider a change in its rules that would require any committee that includes an “earmark” in legislation to report the name of the Member who sponsored the earmark.[1] One aspect of this proposal jumps out: while earmarked funding would be subject to this rule, earmarked special-interest tax breaks would be exempt from the rule, except for tax breaks that … -
Budget Process Bill Would Result In Deep Cuts In Medicare and Medicaid
Revised August 9, 2006
The Senate Budget Committee has approved a bill (S. 3521) that would radically alter federal budget procedures and could lead to deep cuts over time in the vast majority of domestic programs, including Medicaid, Medicare, and SCHIP. While the odds are slim that the legislation will be considered by the full Senate this year, the … -
Combined Effect of Senate Proposals Would Be To Finance Near-Repeal of the Estate Tax with Cuts in Medicare, Veterans Benefits, School Lunches, and Other Programs
August 9, 2006
At the urging of Senate Republican leader Bill Frist, the Senate last week considered a House-passed proposal to repeal most but not all of the estate tax. The measure contains no “offsets”; its large cost would be financed through higher deficits. In June, the Senate Budget Committee approved a far-reaching bill to make major changes in … -
Gregg Bill Would Make Far-Reaching Changes In Budget Rules
Revised August 9, 2006
Executive Summary Sweeping legislation to radically alter federal budget procedures, designed by Senate Budget Committee chairman Judd Gregg and endorsed by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, was adopted by the Budget Committee on June 20. The bill may be brought to the Senate floor this summer (either as a single piece of … -
Budget Process Bill Threatens Veterans’ Programs
August 4, 2006
The Senate Budget Committee has approved a bill (S. 3521) that would radically alter federal budget procedures and could lead to deep cuts over time in the vast majority of domestic programs, including veterans’ programs. While the odds are slim that the legislation will be considered by the full Senate this year, the bill is nevertheless important because it appears to reflect an … -
Putting Their Cards on the Table: Senate Budget Bill Indicates Intention to Pay for Tax Cuts by Sweeping Cuts in Programs for Middle- and Low-Income Households
August 2, 2006
The tax cuts enacted since 2001 have been financed through borrowing — that is, through higher deficits. The sharp estate-tax cut that was approved by the House of Representatives on July 29 and is about to be considered in the Senate would be deficit financed, as well. A new Treasury Department analysis issued on July 25 acknowledges, … -
Another Commission? The Wolf Entitlement Commission Includes Favorable and Unfavorable Aspects
August 1, 2006
Representative Frank Wolf (R-VA) recently introduced legislation (H.R. 5552) to establish a commission to study the long-term fiscal problems the United States faces.[1] The commission would propose legislation to address these problems, and Congress would be required to vote up or down on that legislation. The bill also permits a … -
Statement by Robert Greenstein: House Leadership Invokes “Martial Law,” Forcing Members to Vote on Key Bills Without Full Knowledge of What They Are Voting On: Move Represents Erosion Of The Democratic Process
July 28, 2006
The House Republican Leadership has announced its intention to have the House vote, before adjourning on Friday or Saturday, on several major pieces of legislation that are not yet available to House members in final form because behind-closed-door negotiations on the proposals are still going on.… -
Sunset Commission Proposals Would Not Provide "Good Government"
July 21, 2006
The House Government Reform Committee on July 20 approved, on close to party-line votes, two bills that would establish “sunset commissions.” These sunset commission proposals could be considered by the full House as early as the week of July 24. The two bills before the Government Reform Committee are H.R. 5766, introduced by Representative Todd Tiahrt (R-KS), and H.R. 3282, … -
Senate “Line-Item Veto” Proposal Invites Abuse by Executive Branch
July 12, 2006
The Senate Budget Committee recently approved the Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 2006, a variation of a proposal the Bush Administration submitted earlier this year. The Budget Committee adopted this measure as part of a larger budget-process bill that it passed on June 20. [1] The Senate is expected to consider the line-item veto measure later this session, most likely as a stand-alone … -
Discretionary Caps in Gregg Bill Would Lead To Overly Deep Cuts
Revised July 7, 2006
Senate Budget Committee Chairman Judd Gregg (R-NH) has introduced legislation (S. 3521) that would make a number of far-reaching changes in the federal budget process. The Senate Budget Committee is scheduled to mark up that legislation on June 20. Included in the legislation are provisions that would establish … -
Proposed Discretionary Caps Would Hit States Hard
July 5, 2006
The Senate Budget Committee on June 20 approved legislation (S. 3521) crafted by Budget Committee Chairman Judd Gregg (R-NH) that would make a number of far-reaching changes in the federal budget process.[1] Included in the legislation, which the full Senate may consider this summer, are provisions that would establish … -
Combined Effect of Bills Moving in the Senate Would Be To Finance Near-Repeal of the Estate Tax With Cuts in Medicare, Veterans Benefits, School Lunches, and Other Programs
June 26, 2006
At the urging of Senate Republican leader Bill Frist, the House of Representatives last week approved a measure designed by House Ways and Means Committee chairman Bill Thomas to repeal most but not all of the estate tax. The measure contains no “offsets”; its large cost would be financed through higher deficits.… -
Senate Budget Process Legislation Embraces "Misguided 45 Percent Trigger"
June 26, 2006
Executive Summary Major budget-process legislation approved by the Senate Budget Committee on June 20 seeks to limit the share of Medicare expenditures that are financed by general revenues. The legislation (S. 3521), crafted by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Judd Gregg (R-NH), would establish a new Senate … -
House "Line-Item Veto" Proposal Invites Abuse By Executive Branch
June 19, 2006
The House Budget Committee has approved the Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 2006, a variation of a proposal that the Bush Administration submitted earlier this year.[1] The House floor is expected to consider this legislation during the week of June 18, while the Senate Budget Committee is scheduled to consider a different … -
Biennial Budgeting: Do The Drawbacks Outweigh The Advantages?
June 16, 2006
Senate Budget Committee Judd Gregg (R-NH) has introduced legislation (S. 3521) that would make far-reaching changes in the federal budget process. Included in that legislation is a proposal to move the federal budget from an annual to a biennial cycle. Proponents of biennial budgeting present it as a reform that will … -
Administration's Argument Against Pay-As-You-Go For Tax Cuts Does Not Withstand Scrutiny
June 13, 2006
Bipartisan budget watchdog groups such as the Concord Coalition and the Committee for Economic Development have called for reinstatement of the Pay-As-You-Go rules, which helped move the budget from deficits to surpluses in the 1990s. Eminent figures such as former Federal Reserve chair Alan Greenspan and David Walker, head of the … -
Proposed Line-Item Veto Legislation Would Invite Abuse by Executive Branch
Revised April 21, 2006
The Administration has proposed the Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 2006, which was recently introduced in Congress by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) as S. 2381 and by Representative Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) as H.R. 4890.[1] Both the House and the Senate are expected to consider the proposal in coming months. The … -
Changing The Budget Rules
April 18, 2006
In the budget it presented to Congress last month, the Bush Administration proposed a series of changes in the rules under which Congress considers and approves the federal budget.[1] The principal Administration proposals have a common theme: the new rules would allow unlimited tax cuts while imposing tight limits on … -
Background on Potential Budget Gimmick in Tax Reconciliation Conference
March 28, 2006
Issued Jointly With Lawmakers currently trying to work out differences between the versions of the tax cut reconciliation legislation that the House and Senate passed last year reportedly are considering using a gimmick — which entails claiming that one tax cut “pays for” another tax cut — to evade an important Senate rule. That … -
Press Release: Joint Statement Opposing Potential Budget Gimmick
March 28, 2006
Issued Jointly With Congress is contemplating a gimmick that would circumvent existing budget enforcement rules in the Senate and increase long-term deficits. House and Senate conferees on the reconciliation tax bill are considering a proposal to offset part of the short-term revenue loss (in 2011 through 2015) from one tax cut by enacting another … -
Five-Year Discretionary Caps Would Be Unwise at This Time
March 27, 2006
The President has again proposed enactment of binding caps for each of the next five years on overall levels of funding and expenditures for discretionary programs (i.e., programs that are non-entitlements). Under the proposal, the cap for each fiscal year through 2011 would be set at the overall levels for discretionary … -
A Pay-As-You-Go Rule That Would Exempt All Tax Cuts Would Make a Mockery of Efforts to Restore Fiscal Discipline
March 20, 2006
The House of Representatives will apparently consider legislation in coming weeks that would make a number of changes in the federal budget process. It is possible that this legislation will include a provision endorsed by the House Budget Committee in 2004 that would resurrect the “pay-as-you-go” rules, but in a … -
"Joint Budget Resolution" Could Lead to Gridlock on Appropriations and Shift Power to the Executive Branch
March 16, 2006
Under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, budget resolutions are “concurrent resolutions” that do not go to the President for his signature or veto and are not laws. Also under current rules, if a budget resolution has not been approved by May 15, appropriations bills may be brought to the House floor so that … -
Proposed Cap Would Require Deep Cuts In Entitlement Programs
March 16, 2006
The Republican Study Committee, a group of conservative members of the House of Representatives, has proposed to establish an “entitlement cap” that limits total expenditures for entitlement programs other than Social Security and requires projected expenditures for such programs to be cut $1.8 trillion over the next … -
Administration Proposals To Hide Tax-Cut Costs
February 14, 2006
The President’s 2007 budget includes two proposals that risk corrupting federal budget rules in order to facilitate passage of Administration tax cuts. One proposal calls on Congress to adopt a new scoring convention that would make the cost of extending the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts disappear; under this proposal, legislation to … -
House Leadership Seeks To Invoke "Martial Law," Forcing Members To Vote On Key Budget Bills Without Full Knowledge Of What They Are Voting On
December 18, 2005
The House Republican Leadership has announced its intention to have the House vote today on conference reports on a budget-cut “reconciliation” bill (S. 1932) and the defense appropriation bill (H.R. 2863) under a procedure known as “martial law.” The … -
New Enforcement Mechanism In Senate Budget Plan Would Favor Tax Breaks And Distort Policy Debates
March 22, 2005
The budget resolution that was adopted last week by the Senate includes a new enforcement mechanism that would bar even modest increases in mandatory spending in future years. Yet the provision would do nothing to stop future tax cuts, no matter how large. Such a one-sided rule would not establish true fiscal … -
Administration Expected to Propose New Budget Rule That Could Adversely Affect Social Security, Medicare, SSI, Veterans’ Disability, and Other Programs
Revised February 2, 2005
Overview The Administration’s forthcoming budget is likely to propose a new budget rule that would affect Social Security, Medicare, veterans’ disability compensation, the Supplemental Security Income program for the elderly and disabled poor, health and retirement programs for federal civilian and military … -
Press Release: Excerpts From Joint Statement In Support Of Restoring Pay-As-You-Go
April 20, 2004
Issued Jointly With Growing concerns that large chronic budget deficits once again threaten our economic future have led Members of Congress to consider whether to reinstate the pay-as-you-go rule (PAYGO) and, if so, whether to include an exemption for tax cuts. Our organizations strongly believe that PAYGO should be renewed in its … -
Methodology: The Current Course: Deficits As Far As the Eye Can See
April 20, 2004
Issued Jointly With Last month, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) issued new budget projections that show the federal government running a large cumulative deficit over the next ten years. As CBO acknowledges, however, its baseline projection is unrealistically optimistic, since it does not include the cost of continuing current … -
Joint Statement In Support Of Restoring Pay-As-You-Go Budget Enforcement For Tax Cuts And Entitlements
April 20, 2004
Issued Jointly With Growing concerns that large chronic budget deficits once again threaten our economic future have led Members of Congress to consider whether to reinstate the pay-as-you-go rule (PAYGO) and, if so, whether to include an exemption for tax cuts. Our organizations strongly believe that PAYGO should be renewed in its … -
Press Release: The Developing Crisis — Deficits Matter
September 29, 2003
Issued Jointly With Washington, D.C. — A bipartisan group of prominent budget analysis organizations, former senior government officials, and business leaders warned today of a “growing mismatch between what Americans are scheduled to pay to government and what they expect government to deliver in return.” The group released a new analysis of the … -
Joint Statement: The Developing Crisis — Deficits Matter
September 29, 2003
Issued Jointly With A Fiscal Crisis A fiscal crisis is developing in the United States, and the risks of inaction are high. Without a change in current policies, the federal government can expect to run a cumulative deficit of $5 trillion over the next 10 years. Moreover, the fiscal situation will deteriorate markedly in the decades that …
