Restoring fiscal conflict
Near the end of Ayn Rand’s dystopian novel, Atlas Shrugged, the discredited regime representing the United States Government announces the “John Galt Plan for Peace, Prosperity, and Profit” in a… Read More
When Congress was great: Reforming Social Security
Lost amid the impeachment fight and election contests, an epochal moment in the history of America’s welfare state is coming in 2020: For the first time since 1982, the Social… Read More
Checks and imbalances: Investment disparity between Congress and the presidency
Three coequal branches of government, each continuously serving as an effective check on the others. That was and is the theory, the ideal, and the goal of the American… Read More
Senate Budget Committee reports budget reform legislation
S. 2765, Bipartisan Congressional Budget Reform Act Bill text is at: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/2765/text Cosponsors: Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Angus King (I-ME), Lindsey Graham (R-SC),… Read More
Testimony on zombie programs, aka unauthorized appropriations
Written testimony of Kevin R. Kosar Vice President of Policy, R Street Institute Before the U.S. Senate, Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs,… Read More
Video: Can budget reform revive Congress?
The budget process is a wreck. The president’s budget arrives to Congress dead as a doornail. Congress only sometimes even adopts a budget. And all too often there… Read More
ICYMI: Examining the case for biennial budgeting
View/download PDF… Read More
APSA Task Force Memorandum: The Appropriations Process
To: The Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress From: Nolan McCarty, Princeton University, chair; Sarah Binder, George Washington University; Josh Chafetz, Cornell University; Meredith… Read More
ICYMI: Sen. Mike Enzi releases ideas to fix broken congressional budget and spending process
Below is a press release from Sen. Mike Enzi, Senate Budget Committee chairman. Senate Budget Committee Chairman… Read More
Can Congress curb its spending?
Congress recently approved legislation to suspend the federal debt ceiling and increase spending above levels currently allowed in law. In doing so, its members challenged our assumptions regarding the efficacy… Read More