1. The Federal Budget Process In A Very Small Nutshell May 9, 2007

2. The budget process is like a good story Theme: Money A beginning, middle and end -the president’s budget -budget resolution -appropriations, reconciliation

3. The President’s Budget Just a big proposal Comes out in early February Defines the “characters” Sets the agenda

4. Vocab check! Two types of spending – Discretionary Needs to be renewed each year Programs like Americorps, missile defense, Supplemental Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)… – Mandatory Doesn’t need to be renewed each year Programs like Food Stamps, Medicare, Social Security…

5. What did the President propose? Discretionary: Cuts Mandatory: Cuts Taxes: Cuts Democrats rejected it

6. The President’s Budget: How to get involved Learn Educate Build capacity (Mobilize/Organize) Advocate

7. Conflict: The Budget Resolution A “joint resolution”- a Congressional agreement that the President doesn’t sign February-May

8. What does it do? The budget resolution: – Sets the “size of the pie” for discretionary spending – Initiates possible changes to mandatory spending (optional)

9. Where are we now? Senate, House have passed different versions of the budget resolution House: More discretionary funding Neither has tax cuts, significant changes to mandatory programs

10. Budget Resolution: How to Get Involved Learn Educate Build Capacity (Mobilize/Organize) Advocate

11. Resolution: Appropriations, Reconciliation Appropriations are legal authorizations to spend discretionary funding. Reconciliation bills change mandatory spending and tax laws. Goes from May to ???

12. Where are we now? We’re not quite there yet

13. Appropriations and Reconciliation: How to Get Involved Learn Educate Build capacity (Mobilize/Organize) Advocate

14. Review The budget process as a story Get involved early Every stage matters