Papers
View our recurring reports, which summarize and analyze the most important regular federal budget releases and reports.
Analysis of CBO's February 2021 Budget and Economic Outlook
Today, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its February 2021 Budget and Economic Outlook, confirming that, despite improvements as a result...
Reconciliation 101
This paper has been updated here. What is reconcilation? How do reconciliation instructions work? Can a reconciliation bill add to the budget deficit...
The Cost of the Trump and Biden COVID Response Plans
The COVID pandemic has caused considerable economic damage and human suffering. Policymakers responded aggressively this spring to address the...
The Cost of the Trump and Biden Campaign Plans
Whoever is inaugurated on January 20, 2021, will face many fiscal challenges over his term. Under current law, trillion-dollar annual budget deficits...
Comparing Fiscal Multipliers
The United States is currently facing one of its worst economic and public health crises as a result of COVID-19. Though substantial COVID relief has...
Analysis of CBO's 2020 Long-Term Budget Outlook
Today, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its 2020 Long-Term Budget Outlook, which shows the federal budget is on an unsustainable long...
Better Budget Process Initiative: Automatic CRs Can Improve the Appropriations Process
A government shutdown could occur at the end of this month. This year’s appropriations process is at a standstill, and disagreement over further...
Comparing President Trump’s Record to His 2016 Agenda
During the 2016 campaign, US Budget Watch estimated that then-candidate Donald Trump’s proposed agenda would add $4.6 trillion to budget deficits...
Analysis of CBO’s September 2020 Budget Outlook
Today, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its updated budget outlook – the first to incorporate the effects of the COVID-19 public health...
Understanding Joe Biden's 2020 Health Care Plan
Democratic presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden has proposed a significant agenda to address health care coverage and costs. He...
Webinar & Chartbook: Where Does the Next Phase of COVID Relief Stand?
The novel coronavirus (COVID) pandemic and resulting economic crisis has been met with an unprecedented policy response. In March 2020, Congress...
Understanding Joe Biden's 2020 Tax Plan
Former Vice President Joe Biden – the presumptive Democratic nominee for President in the 2020 election – has put forward a variety of tax proposals...