Federal Budget Links and Research Tools
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Also see Congressional Glossary -- Including Legislative and Budget Terms

Links for Advanced Federal Budget Process, August 6-7, 2012

Appropriations

• Status of appropriations bills (compare FY10 to FY11 to FY12)
• 302b allocations - For current year for House (11-page PDF)
• President's budget request: Example from FDA
• Example from FDA - president's budget (60-page PDF)
• From status of apps. bills:
• Another example: limitation re school lunch nutrition rules (see pp 38-39) (159-page PDF)
• Committee reports - example form FDA (129-page PDF)
• Statement of Administration Policy - Administration signals at markup, floor, and conference which provisions may be objectionable
• Statement of Administration Policy - Earlier FDA example
• Complicated rules for offsets and spending reduction amendments
• Status of bills table shows "progress"
• Budget execution - GAO compilation on appropriations law ("Red Book") interprets precedents

Authorizations

• Basic elements of authorizations - FDA
• Pell Grants are discretionary and mandatory (see page 12) (21-page PDF)
• CBO cost estimates: discretionary and mandatory impacts
• - Senate's farm bill (10-page PDF)
• - MAP-21 (8-page PDF)
• Many expired authorizations still receive appropriations - see CBO study
• Example: riders on Interior bill
• GAO's Principles of Appropriations Law ("Red Book")
  

Primary Sources
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) OMB's predominant mission is to assist the President in overseeing the preparation of the federal budget and to supervise its administration in Executive Branch agencies. In helping to formulate the President's spending plans, OMB evaluates the effectiveness of agency programs, policies, and procedures, assesses competing funding demands among agencies, and sets funding priorities. OMB Circulars President's Budget Budget of the United States Government On FdSys OMB   Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Congressional Budget Justification and Annual Performance Plan	The Budget Committees of the House and Senate develop the annual budget resolution, after receiving testimony from executive branch officials, Members of Congress, and the public, and receiving "views and estimates" statements from other congressional committees with jurisdiction over spending and revenues. House Budget Committee Compilation of Laws and Rules Relating to the Congressional Budget Process, as Amended through November 30, 2008 (234-page PDF) Senate Budget Committee Tax Expenditures: Compendium of Background Material on Individual Provisions, S. Prt. 111-58, December 1, 2010 - FDsys
	House Appropriations Committee Senate Appropriations Committee House Ways and Means Committee Senate Finance Committee
Congressional Budget Office (CBO) CBO provides the Congress with the objective, timely, nonpartisan analyses needed for economic and budget decisions and with the information and estimates required for the Congressional budget process.	House Committee on Rules Amending Appropriation Bills (2-page PDF) Budget Process and Enforcement (4-page PDF) Considering Appropriations Bills (3-page PDF) Views and Estimates on the Presidents Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2012 (4-page PDF)
Government Accountability Office (GAO) GAO is an independent and nonpartisan agency that works for Congress and the American people. It studies how the federal government spends taxpayer dollars and advises Congress and the heads of executive agencies about ways to make government more effective and responsive. Also see A Glossary of Terms Used in the Federal Budget Process from GAO.	Joint Committee on Taxation Among its duties, the Joint Committee provides revenue estimates for all tax legislation considered by either the House or the Senate. Such estimates are the official Congressional estimates for reported tax legislation
Laws
Antideficiency Act, Pub.L. 97-258 See link on CongressionalGlossary.com Budget and Accounting Act of 1921, Pub.L. 67-13 See link on CongressionalGlossary.com Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, Pub.L. 93-344 See link on CongressionalGlossary.com Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, Pub.L. 99-177 See link on CongressionalGlossary.com	Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, Pub.L. 101-508 See link on CongressionalGlossary.com Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1993, Pub.L. 103-66 See link on CongressionalGlossary.com Balanced Budget Act of 1997, Pub.L. 105-33 See link on CongressionalGlossary.com Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, Pub.L. 111-139 See link on CongressionalGlossary.com Budget Control Act of 2011, Pub.L. 112-25 See link on CongressionalGlossary.com
Secondary Sources
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities conducts research at the federal and state levels on fiscal policy and public programs that affect low- and moderate-income families and individuals	National Bureau Of Economic Research The National Bureau of Economic Research is a private, nonprofit, non-partisan research organization dedicated to promoting a greater understanding of how the economy works.
Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments an independent, nonprofit public policy research institute established to promote innovative thinking and debate about national security strategy, defense planning and military investment options for the 21st century.	OMB Watch OMB Watch exists to increase government transparency and accountability; to ensure sound, equitable regulatory and budgetary processes and policies; and to protect and promote active citizen participation in our democracy.
Citizens for Tax Justice Citizens for Tax Justice is a non-partisan, nonprofit research and advocacy organization dedicated to fair taxation at the federal, state, and local levels.	Progressive Policy Institute The Progressive Policy Institute is a research and education institute whose mission is to define and promote a new progressive politics for America in the 21st century.
The Brookings Institution The Brookings Institution is an independent, non-partisan organization devoted to research, analysis, and public education with an emphasis on economics, foreign policy, governance, and metropolitan policy.	Tax Policy Center - A Project of the Urban Institute & the Brookings Institution The Tax Policy Center is a joint venture of the Urban Institute and Brookings Institution. The Center provides analysis and facts about tax policy to policymakers, journalists, citizens, and researchers.
The Concord Coalition The Concord Coalition is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization advocating fiscal responsibility particularly as it relates to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.	The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research conducts scholarly research in economics and trade; social welfare; government tax, spending, regulatory, and legal policies; U.S. politics; international affairs; and U.S. defense and foreign policies.
The Heritage Foundation The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institute whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.	The Cato Institute The Cato Institute is a nonprofit public policy research foundation that strives to achieve greater involvement of the concerned public in questions of policy and the proper role of government.
American Association for Budget and Program Analysis The American Association for Budget and Program Analysis assists state and local government managers and analysts, corporate executives and academic specialists in the fields of public budgeting and program analysis.	The Conference Board The Conference Board is a nonprofit organization that creates and disseminates knowledge about management and the marketplace to help businesses strengthen their performance and better serve society.
American Association for Budget and Program Analysis The American Association for Budget and Program Analysis assists state and local government managers and analysts, corporate executives and academic specialists in the fields of public budgeting and program analysis.	The Performance Institute The Performance Institute is a private, non-partisan think tank improving government results through the principles of performance, competition, transparency, and accountability.
Committee for Economic Development The Committee for Economic Development (CED) is an independent, nonpartisan organization of business and education leaders dedicated to policy research on major economic and social issues.	The Urban Institute A Nonpartisan Economic and Social Policy Research Organization

• "Fiscal Stewardship: A Critical Challenge Facing Our Nation," GAO Report GAO-07-362SP, January 31, 2007 (26-page PDF)

• "State and Local Government Debt: An Analysis," CRS Report R41735.
  See also "State and Local Governments: Fiscal Pressures Could Have Implications for Future Delivery of Intergovernmental Programs," GAO Report GAO-10-899, July 2010.

• The President's Budget

• Budget of the United States Government
  On FdSys
  OMB

• CRS Reports on the Budget of the United States Government
  "The Federal Budget: Issues for FY2011, FY2012, and Beyond," CRS Report R41685
  "The FY2011 Federal Budget," CRS Report R41097
  "The Budget for Fiscal Year 2009," CRS Report RL34419
  "The Budget for Fiscal Year 2008," CRS Report RL33915
  "The Budget for Fiscal Year 2007," CRS Report RL33282
  "The Budget for Fiscal Year 2006," CRS Report RL32812
  "The Budget for Fiscal Year 2005," CRS Report RL32264

• A People's Guide to The Federal Budget, from Council on Foreign Relations

• National Budget Simulation, created by Anders Schneiderman and Nathan Newman

• National Budget Simulation, from EconEdLink

• Congressional Pig Book - from Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW)
  

CRS Reports on the Budget Process

• Introduction to the Federal Budget Process, CRS Report 98-721

• Budget Reconciliation Legislation: Development and Consideration, CRS Report 98-814

• Budget Reconciliation Legislation in 2005-2006, CRS Report RL33132

• Continuing Resolutions: Latest Action and Brief Overview of Recent Practices, CRS Report RL30343

• The Congressional Budget Process: A Brief Overview, CRS Report RS20095

• Allocations and Subdivisions in the Congressional Budget Process, CRS Report RS20144

• The Executive Budget Process Timetable, CRS Report RS20152

• Formulation and Content of the Budget Resolution, CRS Report 98-512

• Appropriations Bills, CRS Report 98-558

• Earmarks and Limitations in Appropriations Bills, CRS Report 98-518

• Government Performance and Results Act and the Appropriations Process, CRS Report 98-726

• Baselines and Scorekeeping in the Federal Budget Process, CRS Report 98-560

• The Budget Enforcement Act: Its Operation Under a Budget Surplus, CRS Report 98-97

• Discretionary Spending Limits, CRS Report RS20008

• Pay-As-You-Go Rules in the Federal Budget Process, CRS Report RS20006

• The Sequestration Process, CRS Report RS20007

• Timetable for Sequestration Actions, CRS Report RS20005

• Budget Reconciliation Legislation: Development and Consideration, CRS Report 98-814

• Congressional Budget Act Points of Order, CRS Report 98-876

• The Congressional Budget Process Timetable, CRS Report 98-472

• Consideration of the Budget Resolution, CRS Report 98-511

• Formulation and Content of the Budget Resolution, CRS Report 98-512

• The Budget Reconciliation Process: The Senate's "Byrd Rule", CRS Report RL30862

• The Mid-Session Review of the President's Budget: Timing Issues, CRS Report RL32509

• Debt-Limit Legislation in the Congressional Budget Process, CRS Report 98-453

• Revenue Legislation in the Congressional Budget Process, CRS Report 98-471

• The Role of the President in Budget Development, CRS Report RS20179

• Shutdown of the Federal Government: Causes, Effects, and Process, CRS Report 98-844

• Preventing Federal Government Shutdowns: Proposals for an Automatic Continuing Resolution, CRS Report RL30339

• Emergency Spending: Statutory and Congressional Rules, CRS Report RS21035

• Origination Clause of the U.S. Constitution: Interpretation & Enforcement, CRS Report RL31399

• Congressional Budget Resolutions: Motions to Instruct Conferees, CRS Report RL31840

• Omnibus Appropriations Acts: Overview of Recent Practices, CRS Report RL32473

• Points of Order in the Congressional Budget Process, CRS Report 97-865

• Supplemental Appropriations: Trends and Budgetary Impacts Since 1981, CRS Report RL33134

• The Budget Reconciliation Process: House and Senate Procedures, CRS Report RL33030

• Earmarks in Appropriations Acts: FY1994, FY1996, FY1998, FY2000, FY2002, FY2004, FY2005, CRS Memorandum, by the CRS Appropriations Team, January 26, 2006 (49-page PDF)

• Water Infrastructure Project Earmarks in EPA Appropriations: Trends and Policy Implications, CRS Report RL32201

• Surface Transportation: Reauthorization of TEA-21, CRS Report IB10138

• Arts and Humanities: Background on Funding, CRS Report RS20287
  

• Pork-Barrel Reduction Act, S. 2265 (GPO)  (13-page PDF)

• S. 2265 (Thomas)

• Transparency and Integrity in Earmarks Act of 2006, S. 2261  (Thomas)

• CLEAN UP Act, S. 2179 (Thomas)

• Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to require parity and transparency in the earmark process, H.RES. 674  (Thomas)

• Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to require that general appropriation bills contain a separate list of all earmarks in the accompanying report and the name of the sponsoring Member of each such earmark, H.RES.662 (Thomas)

• Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to protect the integrity of the institution, H.RES. 659  (Thomas)

• Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2006, H.R.4682 (Thomas)

• Lobbying Transparency and Accountability Act of 2006, H.R.4667 (Thomas)

• Obligation of Funds Transparency Act of 2005, H.R.1642 and S.1495  (Thomas)

• Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to strengthen the budget process,  H.RES. 121  (Thomas)

Articles About Earmarks

Related Resources

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