Bringing the budget process into the 21st century

More than 40 years have passed since Richard Nixon signed the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, increasing Congress’ role in the federal budget process. Since then, Congress has often struggled to fulfill its responsibilities, and since 1998, the House and Senate have failed to agree on a budget resolution nine times. What changes can be made to improve the congressional budget process? What improvements can be made in light of congressional partisanship and dysfunction?

On February 29, the Center for Effective Public Management at Brookings hosted a discussion on reforming the budget process featuring three former Congressional Budget Office directors. Brookings Senior Fellow Alice Rivlin presented findings and policy recommendations from her recent report “Proposal for Improving the Congressional Budget Process,” followed by a panel discussion moderated by Governance Studies Fellow Molly Reynolds.

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