Budget Control Act of 2011 | Center for Effective Government

Murray-Ryan Budget Deal Announced

Dec 11, 2013 by Jessica Schieder

Yesterday evening, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI) announced a budget proposal to replace a portion of sequestration cuts. The plan would allow the continuation of cuts to Medicare, increase user fees, and make it more expensive for government employees to save for retirement.

read in full

House FY 2013 Budget: Another Nail in the Budget Control Act Coffin

Leading up to the release of Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) fiscal year (FY) 2013 budget resolution proposal, the question has not been whether House Republicans will adhere to the federal spending agreement reached in last year’s debt ceiling deal (they will not), but how far below the previously agreed-upon figures they will go. The House GOP’s abandonment of this agreement is yet another example of actions taken to undermine not only the spirit but also the letter of last summer’s deal.

read in full

State of the Union's Call for Tax Fairness is a Good Start

Jan 26, 2012 by Sam Rosen-Amy

“The state of the union is getting stronger.” That is how President Obama characterized the current state of the union. But, as we wrote in our State of the Union preview on Tuesday, we still have a long way to go before the economy is back on its feet. In our article, we recommended doing away with the looming budget cuts, increasing taxes on capital gains and financial transactions, and using the additional revenue to pay for more infrastructure projects and public protections. So what fiscal issues did Obama talk about in his speech on Tuesday?

read in full

How Prepared is the Budget for a Disaster?

Aug 29, 2011 by Craig Jennings

In the past week, the East Coast saw two natural disasters, both of which were thankfully much less destructive than they otherwise could've been. These disasters do, however, remind us that the federal government plays major roles in preparation, information dissemination, emergency response, and recovery aid for natural disasters and provide people with the assistance they need and expect when catastrophe strikes.

read in full

Frequently Asked Questions on the Debt Ceiling Deal

Aug 11, 2011 by Sam Rosen-Amy

As you might have heard, last week Congress finally negotiated an end to the debt ceiling crisis. The basics of the deal are well-known: Republicans agreed to raise the debt ceiling through the next election in exchange for significant spending cuts. But how does the deal actually work? Our new FAQ should help you understand the details behind the deal.

read in full