Celebrating the Pyrite Anniversary of the Congressional Budget Act

Abstract

The congressional budget process has not aged well after years of polarized partisan competition. Republicans, who now control government, may enact budget resolutions and reconciliation bills, or instead end the filibuster. Though debt levels need to be reduced, Republicans favor tax cuts. This places the burden on spending cuts, which lack an election mandate, and that will be opposed strenuously by beneficiaries. Republicans plan to outsource the generation of spending cuts to a nonexpert “Department of Government Efficiency,” and to empower the President to impound funds. The conditions of President Trump's reelection will endanger the legitimacy of budget decisions.