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Two Tax Cuts Primarily Benefiting Millionaires Will Start Taking Effect January 1
December 28, 2005
Sometime early next year, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on the budget reconciliation legislation that the Senate passed on December 21 and the House passed in a slightly different version on December 19. That legislation would make significant cuts in a number of programs … -
Congressional Leaders Misrepresent Why Energy Assistance Funds Were Stripped In Senate
December 23, 2005
On Wednesday, December 21, the Senate voted to strip from the conference report on the defense appropriation bill for fiscal year 2006 (H.R. 2863) legislative language that would have opened the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil drilling. The Senate also voted to strip from the defense appropriation bill an unrelated provision appropriating $2 … -
Congressional Leaders Drop Added Low-Income Energy Assistance
December 22, 2005
Forced to drop a controversial provision authorizing oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) from the defense appropriations bill, Senate leaders also stripped from the bill a provision adding $2 billion in badly needed energy assistance funding this winter for low-income … -
Senate Cuts LIHEAP Funding
December 22, 2005
On Wednesday, December 21, the Senate voted to strip from the conference report on the defense appropriation bill for fiscal year 2006 (H.R. 2863) legislative language that would have opened the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil drilling. The Senate also voted to strip from the defense appropriation bill an unrelated provision appropriating $2 … -
Budget Agreement Likely To Discourage Charitable Giving By Seniors
December 21, 2005
The conference agreement on the budget reconciliation bill approved by the Senate on December 21 includes changes in Medicaid policy that are likely to have a significant impact on charitable giving by seniors. These changes, in the rules regarding the transfer of assets by individuals who … -
Conference Agreement Imposes Expensive New TANF Requirements On States And Will Result In Loss Of Child Care For Working Poor
Revised December 19, 2005
The conference agreement on the spending reconciliation bill (S. 1932) includes a major restructuring of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) work participation requirements, imposing expensive and unfunded new requirements on states and severely limiting the flexibility they were afforded under the 1996 law that created the TANF block grant. While some … -
Budget Conference Agreement Contains Substantial Cuts Aimed at Low-income Families and Individuals
December 18, 2005
Some are claiming that the conference agreement on the budget reconciliation bill is closer to the Senate-passed bill in the low-income area than to the House bill and does not harm low-income Americans to any significant degree. While some low-income cuts in the House bill have been … -
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 … -
Funding for Home Heating in Reconciliation Bill? Right Idea, Wrong Vehicle
Revised December 14, 2005
In its most recent energy price forecasts, issued December 6, the Department of Energy projected that natural gas prices would be 44 percent higher this winter than last winter and that the prices of other winter heating fuels would be significantly higher as well. These steep price increases will entail unaffordable increases in heating bills for many … -
Extra Home Heating Assistance Headed South This Winter?
December 13, 2005
A House-passed bill currently being negotiated with the Senate would nearly triple federal energy assistance to warm-weather states like Florida, Texas, and Arizona while providing cold-weather states with only minimal increases, according to a new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. “With energy prices dramatically … -
Have Domestic Appropriations Exploded?
December 8, 2005
As Congress seeks to complete action on appropriations bills for fiscal year 2006, many Members of Congress seem to be laboring under the impression that appropriations for domestic programs have exploded in recent years. This impression appears to stem, in part, from several releases issued by conservative groups charging that the federal government has … -
House Budget Reconciliation Bill Would Harm People With Disabilities
December 8, 2005
The budget reconciliation bill passed by the House of Representatives on November 18 includes a number of provisions that would adversely affect people with disabilities and their families. These provisions are described briefly below. None of these provisions is included in the Senate version of the budget reconciliation bill. The House bill includes … -
Key Questions for Judging the Outcome of House-Senate Reconciliation Negotiations
December 8, 2005
The House and Senate now are engaged in negotiations over the differences between the budget-cut reconciliation bills the two chambers have passed. Further, negotiations may begin soon over the Senate and House tax reconciliation bills that have also passed in both chambers. In assessing the outcomes of these negotiations, three key questions should be considered. … -
CBO Information Shows Passed House Budget Bill Would Hit the Poor Hard
Revised December 5, 2005
Last night, the House of Representatives narrowly approved a budget reconciliation bill that makes cuts in a number of programs. Information from the Congressional Budget Office shows that many of the cuts would hit low-income people directly and hard, and that these cuts were changed only … -
Cuts in House Budget Bill Aimed at Low-Income Families Reduced By Only Two Percent; 98 Percent of Those Cuts Remain
Revised December 5, 2005
In both the morning and the evening of November 17, House leaders made modifications to the House budget reconciliation bill. Some of these changes were intended to garner support from members of Congress concerned that millions of low-income families would be harshly affected by the bill and forced to shoulder a large share of the bill’s cuts. CBO … -
House Budget Reconciliation Bill Includes Highly Flawed TANF Provisions That Have Repeatedly Failed To Garner Support
Revised November 30, 2005
The budget reconciliation bill that the House passed on November 18, H.R. 4241, includes a set of controversial provisions related to the reauthorization of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant and the child care block grant. The TANF and child care provisions in the House bill would impose … -
President Bush Embraces House Budget
November 18, 2005
The Administration has now released its official “Statement of Administration Policy” (or SAP) on the budget bill that passed the House of Representatives early this morning.[1] In it, the Administration raises no concerns about any of the cuts in low-income programs contained in the House bill, including cuts that the Administration did … -
House Budget Bill Undermines Goals of Promoting Work and Responsibility
Revised November 8, 2005
Over the past decade, conservatives, among others, have emphasized the importance of work and personal responsibility among low-income families. Many have argued that assistance programs should both reward work and require that parents assume personal responsibility for their families. Yet, the … -
Lack of Shared Sacrifice in House Budget Bills
Revised November 2, 2005
The bills recently adopted by House committees as part of the fast-track “reconciliation” budget process would reduce spending in a wide range of mandatory (or “entitlement”) programs. Though defended as necessary to reduce the deficit and offset hurricane-related costs, … -
Unshared Sacrifice
Revised November 2, 2005
The eight House Committees charged with making cuts in a wide range of mandatory (or “entitlement”) programs under this year’s budget process have all completed their work. The reconciliation proposals from each committee will be joined into a single bill and will be considered on the House floor next week. The House budget reconciliation bill has been defended as necessary to reduce the … -
What Are The Effects Of Cutting Domestic Appropriations Another Two Percent?
October 31, 2005
To comply with budget targets set by Congress last April, the appropriation bills that the House of Representatives has passed this year have cut fiscal year 2006 funding for domestic programs by $11 billion, or 2.8 percent on average, below the 2005 level adjusted for inflation. Now, Representative Jim Nussle, Chairman of the House Budget Committee, is … -
Larger Reconciliation Cuts in the House Would Put Low-Income Programs at Greater Risk
Revised October 24, 2005
This report has been superceded by "CBO Information Shows House Budget Bill Passed Last Night Would Hit The Poor Hard." You will be redirected automatically to that report in a few moments. -
Impact of Additional Entitlement Cuts: A State-By-State Analysis
October 21, 2005
This paper is no longer current. For information on the House Ways and Means Committee's portion of the budget reconciliation bill and the cuts the bill would make to key low-income programs, including child support, SSI, and foster care, please see: http://www.cbpp.org/10-25-05wel.htm. For information on the House Energy and Commerce … -
Congress Using the "Reconciliation" Process Again To Make It Easier To Pass Deficit-Increasing Tax Cuts
Revised October 7, 2005
The House and Senate have approved budget resolutions that assume significant tax cuts. The budget resolution approved by the House of Representatives assumes tax cuts totaling $106 billion between 2006 and 2010, while the resolution approved by the Senate would reduce revenues by $129 billion over this five-year period.… -
Getting Serious About Deficits?
October 6, 2005
Discussions have started in recent days about offsetting some or all of the expenditures that the federal government will need to make for relief and recovery from the recent hurricanes. From the standpoint of safeguarding the nation’s fiscal health, these discussions often seem inconsistent and confused. Many policymakers speak of the need to offset … -
The House Republican Study Committee's Proposals to Offset the Costs of Hurricane Relief
October 5, 2005
On September 21, the Republican Study Committee of the House of Representatives, a group of that chamber’s most conservative Republican members, released a large package of program cuts that it proposes be used to offset the cost of relief and recovery from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.[1] The recognition that deficits are a problem is welcome, and some of the cuts proposed by the RSC should be … -
Statement on Proposed Katrina-Relief Budget Package Presented by Republican Study Committee
September 21, 2005
Today the Republican Study Committee of the House of Representatives released a package of proposed program cuts the Committee says could be used to offset the cost of relief and recovery from Hurricane Katrina. While it includes some proposals that should be considered as part of any effort to … -
Another Round of Economic Stimulus?
Revised September 20, 2005
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, some have suggested that Congress enact broad-based federal legislation to stimulate the national economy. Such a course would be ill-advised; Congress should focus instead on immediate reconstruction of the devastated areas and relief for the victims of Katrina. In addition to being necessary for the … -
Katrina Relief and Federal Spending and Deficits
Revised September 19, 2005
Some conservative lawmakers and pundits are arguing that while the funding for relief and recovery efforts from the hurricane may be money that the nation has to spend, the costs will swell federal spending to dangerous and unprecedented levels. This claim is being used both to advance calls for sharp cuts in other domestic programs — in order to … -
Reconciliation Bills Would Increase the Deficit and Favor the Well-Off
September 8, 2005
As a result of the need to devote attention to legislation dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Congressional leaders apparently plan to delay scheduled action on reconciliation legislation (the deadline for committees to act on the first of two reconciliation bills was September 16) by two or three weeks. As Congressional committees strive later … -
Statement of Robert Greenstein on Challenges Facing Congress and the Nation in the Wake of the Devastation of Hurricane Katrina
September 6, 2005
Our thoughts and prayers are with the many people and communities devastated by the tragedy in the Gulf Coast. The nation’s first priority must be to provide food, shelter, medical attention, and other needed assistance to those left homeless by this catastrophe. As Congress returns, … -
What The New CBO Report Shows
August 16, 2005
Over the last few months it has become clear that federal revenues collected in the fiscal year that ends this September 30 will be higher, and the deficit will be lower, than either the Administration or the Congressional Budget Office estimated earlier this year. The Administration and conservative pundits have claimed that the unanticipated increase in … -
Revenue Collections In 2005
Revised August 16, 2005
Recent strong tax collections have led the Congressional Budget Office to reduce its deficit estimate for 2005 to about $331 billion and the Office of Management and Budget to reduce its deficit estimate to $333 billion.[1] The trimming of the deficit is a positive development for the U.S. Treasury. But this development does not lead to the conclusion that “the … -
CBO Sees Essentially No Improvement in Outlook For the Future
August 15, 2005
In contrast to the Administration’s optimistic spin on the good revenue news for this year, the Budget and Economic Outlook: An Update released today by CBO indicates that there has been little change in the outlook for the economy or the budget in coming years (nor has the economy grown … -
Proposed Appropriations Caps Would Require Deep Cuts in Domestic Discretionary Programs
August 10, 2005
Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Tex.) and a number of co-sponsors have introduced budget legislation, H.R. 2290, to make an array of major changes in budget rules and procedures, including the establishment of austere caps on annual appropriations for non-defense discretionary programs (i.e., non-defense programs that are not … -
Entitlement Cap Would Require Deep Cuts in Entitlement Programs, Summary
August 10, 2005
Budget legislation introduced in May by Rep. Jeb Hensarling and 58 House co-sponsors (H.R. 2290) includes a provision that would impose an annual cap on expenditures for entitlement programs other than Social Security.[1] The cap would be set at levels that would require entitlement programs to be cut by $2.1 trillion over the next ten years. This … -
Statement of Robert Greenstein on Tax Cuts in the 2006 Energy Bill
August 8, 2005
The energy bill that the President is signing today continues the trend of not only enacting new tax cuts that add to the deficit but employing budget gimmicks to mask the true cost of these tax breaks. The Joint Committee on Taxation and Congressional Budget Office estimate that the energy bill … -
OMB's Mid-Session Review
July 13, 2005
The Mid-Session Review released July 13 by the Office of Management and Budget is consistent with a recent report from the Congressional Budget Office that shows revenues for fiscal year 2005 will be significantly higher than estimated earlier this year and that the deficit for 2005 consequently will be lower than was projected. According to OMB, the … -
Budget Watchdog Groups Call For End To Deficit Financing For Tax And Spending Bills
June 23, 2005
Robert Bixby Robert Bixby is Executive Director of The Concord Coalition, a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to educating the public about federal budget issues and their consequences for the future. The Concord Coalition was founded in 1992 by former U.S. Senators Warren Rudman (R-NH) and the late … -
Joint Statement On The Need For Pay-As-You-Go Discipline
June 23, 2005
The five organizations joining in this statement have warned that large, chronic budget deficits pose a threat to the economic health of our nation. For that reason, we are increasingly alarmed at the apparent willingness of lawmakers to propose new initiatives, without offsets, that would … -
President's Savings Proposals Likely to Swell Long-Term Deficits, Reduce National Saving, and Primarily Benefit Those with Substantial Wealth
Revised May 25, 2005
The President’s 2006 budget includes a proposal to establish new savings tax breaks. An identical proposal was included in the Administration’s budget last year. The proposal would establish tax-favored “Lifetime Savings Accounts” and replace existing Individual Retirement Accounts with “Retirement Savings Accounts.” Further, there … -
Assessing the Conference Agreement on the Budget Resolution
Revised May 6, 2005
House and Senate Republican conferees have reached agreement on a Congressional budget resolution for fiscal year 2006. The conference agreement calls for significant cuts in domestic programs — both entitlement and annually appropriated (so-called discretionary) programs — over the next five years. But … -
Despite Claims By its Supporters, Congressional Budget Plan Increases the Deficit
April 29, 2005
Proponents of the conference report on the Congressional budget resolution recently adopted by the House and Senate have claimed that the resolution reduces the deficit over the next five years. They have used this purported "deficit reduction" to justify the resolution's $35 billion in entitlement cuts over … -
Statement by Robert Greenstein Executive Director of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, on the Budget Resolution Conference Agreement
April 28, 2005
Rather than produce a balanced plan to reduce the deficit, House and Senate Republican negotiators have reached an agreement on a budget that increases the deficit and pairs more tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans with cuts in programs for the neediest and most vulnerable of our citizens. The … -
House Budget Resolution Would Require Much Deeper Cuts in Key Low-Income Programs than Senate Budget Plan
Revised April 7, 2005
The budget resolutions passed by the House and Senate in mid-March differ sharply in the size of their cuts in key “mandatory” (or “entitlement”) programs that assist low-income families with children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. The House Budget Resolution calls for an estimated $30 … -
Assessing The Budget Proposal Adopted By The Senate
Revised April 1, 2005
This brief analysis examines the budget proposal adopted by the Senate on March 17. While the proposal calls for substantial reductions in many domestic programs, it nonetheless would increase the deficit by $217 billion over the next five years, due in part to its emphasis on further tax cuts. Amendments adopted … -
Possible Cuts In Key Low-Income Programs A Major Issue In House-Senate Budget Conference
March 30, 2005
With House and Senate negotiators about to begin work on a compromise FY 2006 budget resolution, a new Center report shows how the reductions that the House budget would likely produce in a range of low-income “mandatory” (or “entitlement”) programs could affect individual programs and specific states if they are enacted.… -
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 … -
With Bunning Amendment, Senate Budget Would Move Up Medicare Insolvency By Four Years and Increase Deficits By More Than $200 Billion
March 18, 2005
An amendment to the budget that the Senate adopted March 17 would move up by four years — to 2016 — the point at which the Medicare Hospital Insurance program becomes insolvent. With passage of the amendment, the final budget plan the Senate approved would increase deficits by $217 billion over five years. The … -
Assessing the Budget Plan Approved By the House of Representatives
Revised March 18, 2005
This brief analysis examines the budget plan approved on March 17 by the House of Representatives. In short, while the budget plan calls for substantial reductions in many domestic programs, it would increase rather than decrease the deficit over time, largely due to its emphasis on further tax cuts. Funding for …
