I am Robert Greenstein, executive director of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The Center is an independent, nonprofit policy institute that conducts research and analysis on a range of federal and state policy issues, with particular emphasis on fiscal policies and policies affecting low- and moderate-income families. We receive no government grants or contracts and are funded by foundations and individual donors.
My testimony today will focus on three areas: 1) trends in funding for domestic discretionary programs and how this part of the budget is affecting the short-term and long-term budget outlook; 2) the President’s budget proposals with regard to this part of the budget; and 3) how broader national and global forces and the trend toward widening income inequality are likely to affect needs for non-defense discretionary funding in the years ahead.
