Protecting our Democracy: Reasserting Congress’ Power of the Purse
Today, the House Budget Committee will hold a hearing examining the importance of reasserting Congress’ power of the purse. Witnesses will discuss the proper balance of the separation of powers,… Read More
Letter: Bipartisan Coalition Urges Appropriators to Restore Congress’ Power of the Purse
Dear Chairman Leahy, Vice Chairman Shelby, Senator Van Hollen, and Senator Hyde-Smith: We are an ideologically diverse coalition of organizations that have come together to preserve and promote the constitutional… Read More
If you don’t like the score, play better
Senate Democrats, frustrated their increasingly costly agenda is hitting some speedbumps (also known as business as usual), are considering a novel—and dangerous—solution to their legislative logjam: sub out the… Read More
Millennial Debt Commission & R Street Institute co-host event with Sens. Angus King (I-ME) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
The Millennial Debt Commission and the R Street Institute are co-hosting an event with Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), as well as Congressmen Dean… Read More
Roll Call: House Republican Conference votes to bring back earmarks
Roll Call reports: House Republicans lifted their decade-old ban on earmarks Wednesday during a closed-door vote, freeing up members to request “congressionally directed spending” under … Read More
Can Republicans and Democrats finally address the national debt?
Perhaps the most surprising outcome of the 2020 elections is the narrowness of the governing margins in Congress. While Joe Biden was expected by most observers to be the next… Read More
Video: The Potential Return of Earmarks
Wednesday morning, Taxpayers for Common Sense President Stephen Ellis and Congressional Institute President Mark Strand talked about the potential return of earmarks on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal. They… Read More
All I Want for Christmas is…Reconciliation Reform
Today marks the third anniversary of the signing of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 into law. Enactment of this legislation was a major policy victory for… Read More
Congress needs to curb presidential power. Here’s how it can start to.
George Will writes in the Washington Post about the powers and responsibilities vested in the House and Senate as well as recommendations for strengthening the bodies from the Select… Read More
ICYMI: Members of Congress have lost control over spending
(This piece originally appeared in the Washington Post.) The Constitution affords Congress the “power of the purse”: “No money shall be drawn from the Treasury but in Consequence of Appropriations… Read More