Blog Posts and Analysis / Revenue & Spending

Senate Still Without Strong Earmark Disclosure Provisions

While the House passed earmark disclosure provisions in its initial rules package in January, a stronger proposal for earmark disclosure passed by the Senate as part of a larger lobbying and ethics reform bill has languished for months. Despite the delay, recent rumors of possible action on the companion House ethics and lobbying reform bill have renewed hope the stronger Senate language on earmarks will eventually be adopted in both chambers.

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Economic Policy Institute Panel Looks beyond Balanced Budget

A balanced budget can and does have a place in a responsible fiscal policy, but it is not the only element. That was the message presented April 12, when the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) hosted a panel discussion entitled "Beyond Balanced Budget Mania." Indeed, a strict concentration on balancing the budget could have deleterious effects on the economy, continue to leave health care out the reach of millions, and contribute to the ongoing decay of national infrastructure.

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Supplemental Debate: War of Words

In the weeks since the House and Senate each narrowly passed emergency supplemental appropriations bills, the president and congressional Democrats have engaged in a rhetorical battle over additional items above the president's record request, as well as language calling for a withdrawal of troops from Iraq. Bush has issued almost daily attacks against the bills since they passed, calling them attempts to "micromanage" the war and fund unnecessary projects. The two sides are scheduled to meet at the White House April 18, but the war of words is not expected to abate anytime soon.

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Budget Resolution Conference Faces Key Choices on PAYGO, Taxes

In the final weeks of March, the House and Senate adopted budget resolutions for Fiscal Year 2008 by narrow margins and will now turn to the task of finding a compromise resolution in conference committee. The two $2.9 trillion budget plans are broadly similar — both seek to reach a budget surplus by the year 2012, establish reserve funds to extend the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to all eligible children, and embrace pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) principles.

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Support Mounts to End IRS Privatization Program

Key politicians and advocacy groups are lining up against an IRS program to privatize tax collections, as suspect contracts have raised further concerns about the effectiveness and transparency of the program.

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GSA Administrator Testifies on Misconduct Allegations

On March 28, General Services Administration (GSA) chief Lurita Doan testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to account for incidents of alleged mismanagement and politicization of GSA resources. In her testimony, Doan mostly offered unsubstantiated denials and accusations while professing ignorance or a faulty recollection of key actions.

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Congress Approves War Funding; Pressures Bush to Withdraw Troops

Despite repeated veto threats from President George W. Bush, both the House and Senate have approved enormous war supplemental bills that contain a schedule for eventual withdrawal of American soldiers from Iraq. At approximately $124 billion, these bills are the largest supplemental funding legislation in history.

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