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
New legislation to end government shutdowns
The below text comes from Sen. James Lankford (R, OK) and Maggie Hassan (D, NH). It’s a sad but true reality: Congress functions best on a deadline. In theory,… Read More
Congressional pay is a victim of excessive transparency
It happened again last month. Despite the efforts of dozens of thoughtful reformers, risky political moves by leadership and incisive op-eds, legislators once again proved incapable of voting themselves a… Read More
Why members of Congress should get a raise, whether they deserve it or not
You’ve surely heard the old line, “The best Congress money can buy.” Typically, it’s said sardonically. In the classic formulation, it’s not your money doing the buying. It’s special interests… Read More
Are permanent appropriations the fix the budget process needs?
As Kevin Kosar discussed recently, political scientist Andrew Taylor has a new proposal, outlined in the latest issue of National Affairs, to reform the appropriations process by shifting… Read More
Permanent appropriations: Might they improve the budget process?
If you have not read Prof. Andrew Taylor’s article in the latest copy of National Affairs, you should. It is… Read More
Testimony: Congressional staff
Written testimony of Casey Burgat Senior Governance Fellow, R Street Institute Before the House of Representatives Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee… Read More
Enough of our budget farce
he Trump administration’s new budget is fake news. That isn’t because it fails to live up to its grandiose title: “A Budget for a Better America: Promises Kept. Taxpayers First.”… Read More
Letter in support of increased funding for the Legislative Branch in FY2020
Re: FY 2020 302(b) Allocation for the Legislative Branch Dear Chairwoman Lowey, Ranking Member Granger, and members of the committee: On behalf of the undersigned bipartisan group of civil society… Read More
No, getting rid of Congress is not a clever idea
Congressional majorities and President Donald Trump disagreed about how much money ought to be used to extend barriers running along our nation’s southern border. Their disagreement led to a partial… Read More