Congressional Budget Resolution

Articles & Analysis

Congress Passes FY 2010 Budget Resolution

On April 29, exactly 100 days into the Obama administration, the House and Senate each passed a final version of the Fiscal Year 2010 budget resolution. The final resolution outlines $3.56 trillion in spending and tracks closely with President Obama's major proposals, including key investments in health care, education, and energy.

House, Senate Pass Budget Resolutions

The House and Senate each passed their budget resolutions on April 2, mostly along party lines, before breaking for a two-week spring recess. The resolutions delineate approximately $3.6 trillion in spending for Fiscal Year 2010 and track closely with the major proposals outlined by President Barack Obama, including estimates of historic budget deficits. Those deficits could become significantly worse due to the adoption of an amendment in the Senate that calls for further cuts to the estate tax, benefiting the richest families in the country.

Obama's Agenda Faces Challenges in Congress

President Barack Obama proposed an ambitious agenda when he unveiled his budget outline at the end of February. In addition to significant funding increases for many key public investments including housing, education, and job training, the president also put on the table landmark legislation that would provide universal health care and begin addressing global climate change. There are, however, a number of obstacles that may hinder the implementation of the president's agenda. During the week of March 16, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) revised its deficit projection upward, and fiscally conservative senators and representatives noted their intent to hamper the president's efforts through parliamentary procedure. As Congress begins drafting its budget plans, it remains uncertain whether it will include all of the president's spending proposals.

Congress Looks to Complete Fiscal Year 2009 Funding Bills

On Feb. 23, the House released details of a $410 billion omnibus spending bill. The bill would continue funding large portions of the federal government for the remainder of the fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. The omnibus bill bundles appropriations for nine out of 12 spending bills set to expire on March 6. The Senate is expected to pick up the legislation the first week of March.

Senate Recesses, Completes Only 4 of 13 Spending Bills

After passing the Corporate Tax Bill on Columbus Day, the Senate approved with little debate measures to fund both the Military Construction and Homeland Security appropriations bills for FY 2005, which began Oct. 1. Together with the Defense and the District of Columbia appropriations bills Congress recently approved, these bring the total passed to only four of the thirteen bills needed to fund discretionary spending for FY 2005.

Return of a 'CYA' Budget Policy

The long-ago defeated proposal for a balanced budget constitutional amendment is rearing its ugly head once again. Unable to pass a budget this year and having created near-record deficits, some members of the House are desperate to create the appearance of being fiscally responsible, and are considering bringing up a vote on the measure (H. J. RES. 22).

Action Alert! The Unfortunate Return of the Balanced Budget Amendment

The full House Judiciary Committee met on September 22 to consider, once again, the ill-conceived constitutional Balanced Budget Amendment (H. J. RES. 22). The issue will most likely be revisited by the House Committee sometime next week, although it is currently unknown exactly when. Regardless of one’s opinions about the wisdom of balancing the budget or running massive deficits, the Balanced Budget Amendment is exceptionally bad economic policy. Download Press Statement - (.pdf, 1pp) Download Factsheet - (.pdf, 1pp) Take Action!

Appropriations: A Broken Process

Not only was Congress unable to pass a budget resolution this year --passage of appropriations is also in jeopardy.

Appropriations in November?

The House has been steadily moving forward with appropriations bills, in spite of the tight cap on appropriations spending for 2004; but in the Senate only one bill -- Defense -- has passed, and only one other bill -- Homeland Security -- has even gotten through a full Senate committee. None has made it to the Senate floor.