The Federal Budget Process

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The Federal Budget Process
June 24, 2008
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Federal Budget 101
Building Blocks Federal Budget Basics
Dollars Cents Whats in the Budget?
The Budget Game Congressional Process
Methods of Funding Pros and Cons
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40 Years in the Wilderness
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Building the Federal Budget Process
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Deficits as Far as the Eye Can See
Surpluses
Deficits?
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How the Money Comes In Revenue
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Where the Money Goes Spending
OAA 0.066
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Congressional Budget The Players
House Ways Means
Senate Budget
Budget Committees
House Energy Commerce
Senate HELP
Revenue Committees
Sets Tax Rates Determines
Revenue Levels
Program Authorizations Mandatory Spending
Determines Total Revenue Spending
Targets Sets Budget Rules
Discretionary Spending Programs
Senate Appropriations
House Appropriations
Authorizing Committees
House Education Labor
Senate Aging
Appropriations Committees
House Budget
Senate Finance
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Examining the Budget Resolution
Congressional Budget Outline
Sets Budget Aggregates
Revenues Outlays Budget Authority
Surplus/Deficit Public Debt
Makes Budget Rules
Allocates Committee Funds
Reconciliation Reserve Funds Cap Adjustments
Points of Order
Sets Total Discretionary Allocates Mandatory by
Committee
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The Trump Card Reconciliation
Budget Reconciliation
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Appropriations The Endgame
House
Senate
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Methods of Funding Pros Cons

• PROS Familiarity With the Programs
• CONS Competition for Scarce Dollars
• Limited to Annual Funding

• PROS Allows Appropriators to Adjust Allocation
• CONS Must Be in the Budget Resolution
• Requires Scorable Savings

• PROS Multi-Year Funding
• CONS Different Committees of Jurisdiction
• Savings Not Required, But Probably Needed

• PROS Allows Authorizers to Adjust Allocation
• CONS Must Be in the Budget Resolution
• Requires Scorable Savings Regular Order

• PROS Allows for Privileged Senate Consideration
• CONS Must Be in the Budget Resolution
• Requires Scorable Savings

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Questions?