Video of meeting on appropriations and regular order
At the October 2017 meeting of the Legislative Branch Capacity Working Group, Casey Burgat, Lee Drutman, Peter Hanson, and James Wallner examined and interpreted calls for “regular order” in the appropriations… Read More
ICYMI: Congress’s vanishing budget: It’s not all polarization’s fault
Casey Burgat and Joshua Huder write at the Brookings FixGov Blog: “Congress is failing to do its job in large respects, particularly when it comes to government spending. But… Read More
The 1986 Tax Reform Effort Shows that Republicans Have a Tough Road Ahead
Source: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26 By Rob Oldham If there is one thing that unites Republicans as different as Donald Trump, Paul Ryan (WI), and Susan Collins (ME), it is a general… Read More
Kevin Drum: Bring Back Earmarks
Kevin Drum is yet another member of the coalition to bring back earmarks. He writes in the September/October copy of Mother Jones: “Earlier this year, California Gov. Jerry Brown… Read More
A Closer Look at a Trump-Schumer Deal to Eliminate the Debt Ceiling
Source: Bloomberg.com, https://www.bloomberg.com/quicktake/the-debt-ceiling By Rob Oldham President Trump made waves in Washington when he agreed to a deal with congressional Democrats that provides relief from the damage caused by Hurricane… Read More
ICYMI: Why Congress Must Not Let the Debt Limit Crisis Go to Waste
Brookings Institution’s Stuart Butler writes: “‘Must pass’ legislation to increase the debt limit has long been used as the vehicle to pass other urgent or controversial bills, including changes in… Read More
Why Does the Senate So Rarely Consider a Budget Resolution?
The share of amendments to the budget resolution that are symbolic, 1993-2015. Source: Molly Reynolds, “Considering the budget resolution in the Senate: Challenges and consequences of reform,” May 2017. By… Read More
Confused by Reconciliation? Read This.
Molly Reynolds writes at the FixGov blog: “With Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) planning to try to begin debate on the Republican health care bill Tuesday, lots… Read More
ICYMI: Rep. Isakson Introduces Biennial Budgeting Bill
Rep. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga, writes at the Ripon Forum: “Over the last 37 years, since 1980, Congress has passed all 12 annual appropriations bills on time only twice. Too… Read More
Congressional Pay and Benefits at a Standstill, With a Cost
David Hawkings writes at Roll Call: “This is the longest period without a congressional raise since the decade ending in 1965, and there’s little likelihood the salary will change… Read More