Federal
February 17, 2014
The Administration's FY 2015 budget request to Congress is expected to be released in two installments this year, with topline budgetary numbers to be shared March 4. Additional details will follow on March 11 and include the budget appendix and related justifications supporting proposed funding for federal agencies and programs.
Republican members of the House Budget Committee, led by Chairman Paul Ryan (WI), are planning to meet this week to begin working on the annual budget resolution. It remains unclear if Democrats on the Senate Budget Committee led by Chairwoman Patty Murray (WA) will complete a budget resolution this year.
The budget agreement established in December set topline funding figures for FY15 and provides House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY) and Senate Appropriations Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) the ability to move ahead with work on appropriations bills. Rep. Rogers and Sen. Mikulski have said that they will not wait for Congress to pass a budget resolution and plan to move all 12 of the annual spending bills individually by the October 1, 2014 start of the new fiscal year. The last time that occurred was 1994.
February 3, 2014
ANNUAL BUDGET CYCLE GETS UNDERWAY
The Administration is scheduled to release its FY 2015 budget request to Congress on March 4, which will mark the official start of this year’s budget and appropriations cycle.
The chairs of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY) and Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), are considering moving ahead with negotiating spending levels for the 12 annual appropriations bills and not waiting for the two chambers to approve Budget Resolutions. The leaders acknowledged that they are just now beginning discussions on the pathway forward and a final decision is expected within the next few weeks.
The budget agreement hashed out by Budget Committee Chairs Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), and approved by the House and Senate in December, set the top line of $1.014 trillion for discretionary spending for FY15. Domestic spending is capped at $492.5 billion and defense spending at $521.4 billion.
In related news, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers announced last week some changes in Republican member subcommittee assignments, including Representatives Martha Roby (R-AL) and Chris Stewart (R-UT), who were selected to serve on the House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee. In addition, Congressman Mike Simpson (R-ID) will no longer serve on the Labor-HHS subcommittee.
January 21, 2014
CPB FULLY FUNDED IN OMNIBUS
Last week, Congress approved, and the President signed, the $1.012 trillion omnibus spending bill for fiscal year 2014. The measure keeps the federal government funded until September 30 and preserves CPB’s two-year advance at $445 million for FY16. Federal agencies and programs were also given some relief from sequestration this fiscal year and next as part of the budget deal struck last month by lawmakers.
More than a dozen station leaders signed letters urging support for CPB’s two-year advance to members of the House and Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittees, including: Congressmen Steve Womack (AK) and Mike Simpson (IA); and Senators Jerry Moran (KS), John Boozman (AK), Mark Pryor (AK), Dick Durbin (IL), Mark Kirk (IL) and Tom Harkin (IA).
All eyes now turn to the FY15 budget cycle. We expect the Administration to deliver their annual budget recommendation to Congress belatedly in March as they have done in previous years.
In related news, yet another retirement was announced from a House appropriator and longtime supporter of public broadcasting. After serving more than two decades in the House of Representatives, Congressman Jim Moran (D-VA) announced that he will complete his final term in office this year and not run for re-election. So far, 16 members of the House have announced their retirements – 10 Republicans and six Democrats. Four of these members currently serve on the Appropriations committee.
January 6, 2014
BIPARTISAN BUDGET PLANNING CONTINUES
During the December break, congressional appropriators and their staff hashed out the details of the FY 14 spending bills that will fund federal agencies and programs for the final eight months of the fiscal year.
Leaders are expected to finalize plans this week for how the House and Senate will act on the measures before current spending expires on January 15. Most, if not all, of the bills are expected to be wrapped up within an omnibus bill. Stay tuned for future updates, including final funding levels for CPB, as lawmakers release details of the spending package.
In related news, two longtime GOP appropriators announced their upcoming retirements. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA), Chair of the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee and Rep. Tom Latham (R-IA), Chair of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (T-HUD) Appropriations Subcommittee will serve out their current terms in office until late 2014.