The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its annual Budget and Economic Outlook, providing 11‐year fiscal projections for 2024 to 2034.
Downsizing Blog
Six Reforms to Enhance Transparency and Fiscal Accountability Through the Congressional Budget Office
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) plays a critical role in informing Congress. We can think of at least six reforms that would enhance the CBO’s role in ensuring transparency and accountability in federal budgeting.
Decentralize Spending to Tackle Government Debt
The federal government’s debt is rising to dangerous and unprecedented heights. Compared to the size of the economy, the debt will soon reach levels never seen in our nation’s history.
House Budget Committee Advances Fiscal Commission to Address Government Spending and Debt
It was a big week for advancing fiscal restraint in Congress. The House Budget Committee passed the Fiscal Commission Act of 2024 out of committee on January 18 with bipartisan support. This is a positive step toward bringing more attention to the nation’s rapidly deteriorating fiscal state and advancing proposals to address it.
Presidential Candidates on Spending
Do any presidential candidates offer hope of fiscal sanity? Let’s see what the Republicans are saying.
Curbing Federal Emergency Spending: New Study Release
The key takeaway: Congress is increasingly abusing emergency designations to evade spending limits. With Congress still considering $110 billion in emergency funding for Ukraine and Israel, it is high time we recognize the fiscal and national security consequences of unpaid‐for emergency spending.
The Solution to Soaring Debt
Cutting federal aid to the states would reduce our national debt while improving governance.
Reforming Medicaid DSH Payments
The federal government’s design of the DSH program is outdated and leaves ample room for fraud. To alleviate this, the federal government should recalculate state‐level DSH allocations, limit states’ usage of abusive hospital/provider taxes, and crack down on existing hospital/provider tax loopholes.
A Fail‐Safe Congressional Fiscal Commission to Fix Government Spending and Debt
Members of Congress say they want to be in the driver’s seat on correcting America’s rapidly deteriorating fiscal situation. Recent fiscal commission bills, such as the House Fiscal Commission Act [H.R.
That’s Not How the BRAC Commission Worked: No Up or Down Vote but Silent Approval
Former Senator Rob Portman (R‑OH).
I’ve excitedly been following former Senator Rob Portman’s advocacy for a congressional fiscal commission to address unsustainable spending that’s driving the US deeper int