Hate It Now, Hate It Later. Today, President Obama delivered his budget proposals for fiscal year 2012 (Oct. 1, 2011 – Sept. 30, 2012) . In the days ahead we’ll be hearing more and more about the federal budget proposals. Talking heads and headstrong politicos threaten to explode our heads.
We know from long experience that the budget process is a yearly dance of death, and this year the choreography is far more unstructured and unpredictable than usual. Sort of post-structural, on the border of surreal and loony. The aging GOP and the new group of youthful Tea Partiers are already ungracefully stomping on each other’s feet. The Dems and President Obama, are more compatible partners, yet it’s a close call, and some in the House and Senate chorus line seem a bit nervous and perhaps even rebellious.
Block That Metaphor! Please! Moving away from the dance metaphor, – this year’s budget battle is really more like a demolition derby – this year’s budget process threatens to topple longstanding programs and to block anything new. It also will, I’m guessing, quickly put the new era of civility, born in the aftermath of the Arizona tragedy, quickly in the rear mirror. The competing interests are in some cases light years apart – both the GOP and the Democrats, especially, will be challenged by the Tea Party jihad. Already, Tea Party opposition to the GOP-proposed cuts in what remains of this year’s budget cause John Boehner to agree to billions more in proposed cuts. (Before long, Boehner and others won’t have any revenue to give away to insurance companies and oil interests. Then what will they do for a living?)
The budget process over the years has become more and more impenetrable; I think it’s not happenstance, either. Our leaders cannot even agree what’s a budget item and what’s not, witness Social Security. This Snoopers Tip will not help with the politics but will enable you to find some of the resources you need to keep your eye on the money as it leaves the building . . .
Here’s some items of interest to have in your “Budget Info” bookmark. While these pointers are not exhaustive, I hope they help you become a better budget snooper.
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| Here’s the graphical flow chart of my years of research on this topic. |
1. Two weeks ago, the Washington Post published a simplified and “interactive” guide to the federal budget process, The Federal Budget Process. In timeline fashion, the primer includes basic concepts of federal budgeting; the presidential and the congressional budget process; spending; revenue; and reconciliation. In a bow to the obvious, the writer points out that these benchmarks are rarely achieved on time . . . So, if you’re short on federal budget savvy, this is an easy starting point.
2. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is the primary research agency for Congress. CRS resides in, and is a component of, the Library of Congress, located at the center of Capitol Hill. One of their 1998 reports, Introduction to the Federal Budget Process, provides in-depth coverage of the unholy mess called federal budgeting. Note, though, that sections like “Earmark Reform,” and “Debt-Limit Legislation” call for some updating. To assist in that have a look at the House Rules for the 112th Congress, and the House Rules Committee summary.
CRS does not provide its reports directly to the public (us), you have to request them through your representative or senator. Thanks to OPENCRS, though, you can read or download selected (i.e., liberated) reports for free. If you want more budget-related info, go there and search “budget,” or any other interest you have.
3. Congressional Committees. The House Budget Committee web site is a great one-stop shop for budget matters with links to other budget agencies and budget data. Also, the site links to the Minority (Democratic) site as well. The Senate Budget Committee web site is, like the House website, a portal to both the Majority (GOP) site and to the Minority (GOP) site, both of which offer a full plate of budget information and links. (Other committees involved in the budget process will be discussed in an upcoming blog, eg. appropriations committees.)
4. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) – “CBO’s mandate is to provide the Congress with: Objective, nonpartisan, and timely analyses to aid in economic and budgetary decisions on the wide array of programs covered by the federal budget and the information and estimates required for the Congressional budget process.” Their duties in the budget process are described here.
Hate It Now, Hate It Later? So, while this may possibly not cause you to “love” the federal budget, and perhaps not even cause you to “like” the federal budget, maybe it’ll help you “tolerate” it. Or maybe just hate it a tiny bit less. If so, my work is done here.
More Snoopers Tips soon! Bestest, Mike
