California U.S. Senate Candidate Spending Analysis – Barbara Boxer
Total Net Spending Agenda: $15.847 billion
Economy,
Transportation, and Infrastructure: Unknown
A.
Bankruptcy and Home Foreclosures:
“…
[M]any of our families, they could go to bankruptcy court, could get the judge
to order lower payments and everybody would come together to do it – the banks
and the consumer. There’s an anomaly in our bankruptcy law: if you go bankrupt,
everything but your main house gets to be part of the settlement. We need to
change that law … .”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrqkAOYhzu0
Cost: Unknown.
B.
Family and Medical Leave:
“Senator
Boxer was an early cosponsor and avid supporter of the Family and Medical Leave
Act, which has been used more than 100 million times by Americans to take time
off from work to care for a newborn child or an ailing family member. She
supports expanding the scope of the law to make more workers eligible for this
benefit.”
http://www.barbaraboxer.com/tools/documents/files/Boxer-Children-1.pdf
Cost: Unknown.
Note: Related legislation has been
introduced in the form of S. 3680 (111th Congress), the Family and
Medical Leave Inclusion Act. A cost estimate is
currently unavailable.
C.
Net Neutrality:
“Senator
Boxer supports net neutrality legislation to ensure that Internet Service
Providers cannot discriminate against web sites or give preferential access to
some web sites over others.”
http://www.barbaraboxer.com/tools/documents/files/Boxer-Technology-1.pdf
Cost: Unknown.
Note: Senator Boxer was a cosponsor of
S. 211 (110th Congress), the Internet Freedom Preservation Act, a
bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure net neutrality. The
legislation was reintroduced in the House of Representatives in the 111th
Congress, but not in the Senate. A cost estimate is currently unavailable.
D.
Outsourcing:
“The
fact is our nation needs to incentivize companies like yours [technology firms]
to hire American workers. We need to see the words ‘Made in America’ again.”
http://media.scpr.org/audio/upload/2010/09/29/boxer-fiorina-KPCCdebate.mp3 (min. 12:30)
Cost: Unknown.
Note: It is unclear whether Senator
Boxer would advocate proposals having only revenue effects (for example, tax
penalties on U.S. employers who hire abroad) or having outlay effects as well
(for example, “refundable” credits for U.S. employers who hire domestically).
E.
Small Business Loans from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP):
“Reallocate
TARP for Small Business Loans: Businesses must have greater access to capital
to help our economy recover. Co-sponsored by Sen[ator]. Boxer, the Bank on Our
Communities Act will allocate existing Trouble Asset Relief Program (TARP)
funds to viable community banks on the condition that they restart the flow of
lending to small businesses.”
http://www.barbaraboxer.com/tools/files/files/Boxer-Small-Business.pdf
Cost: Unknown.
Note:
The
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (P.L. 111-203)
prohibits the reuse of repaid TARP funds, according to CBO, The Budget and Economic Outlook: An Update, August 2010,
http://cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=11705&type=1.
If Senator Boxer wanted to create the
loan program without TARP funds, the potential cost to taxpayers would be
determined, in part, by the subsidy rates associated with the different loan
types. In a cost estimate for S. 2869
(111th Congress), the Small Business Job Creation and Access to
Capital Act of 2009, which would expand maximum loan sizes and increase loan
guarantee rates, CBO states that “subsidy rates for those programs range from
zero percent for the 504 program to about 12 percent for the microloan program.”
http://cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=11006&zzz=40172.
F.
Transportation:
“I’m
working with President Obama and his administration to write a new
transportation bill, which will create millions more jobs, rebuilding the
infrastructure of our great state … .”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlDJzaf_vTw&feature=related
Cost: Unknown.
Note: According to Table 33-1 of the Budget of the U.S. Government, Fiscal Year
2011, Analytical Perspectives, the Federal Highway Administration received
$51.75 billion in FY 2010 and requested $48.696 billion in FY 2011. These
figures include $11.263 billion in American Reinvestment and Recovery Act
funds. It is unclear how much additional funding Senator Boxer would support
beyond these levels.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/budget/fy2011/assets/33_1.pdf
Education,
Science, and Research: $1.484 billion
A.
Academic Standards:
“Senator
Boxer supports tough education standards to make sure our kids have the skills
they need to succeed. At the same time, however, she believes that we must
adequately fund education so that our schools and students can meet those
standards.”
http://www.barbaraboxer.com/tools/documents/files/Boxer-Education-1.pdf
Cost: Unknown.
Note: According to the Table 4.1 of the Budget of the U.S. Government, Fiscal Year
2011, Historical Tables, the Department of Education received $106.944
billion in FY 2010 and requests $94.261 billion in FY 2011. Related legislation
has been introduced in the form of S. 3558 (111th Congress), the No
Child Left Behind Reform Act. The text authorizes $240 million over three
years. It is unclear how much additional funding Senator Boxer would support
beyond these levels.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/Historicals
B.
After-School Programs:
“Senator Boxer is the leading
Senate advocate and champion for after school programs to give children a safe
and enriching place to go at the end of the school day. She wrote the law that
authorizes federal funding for after school programs – the first such law of
its kind. And she continues to fight to see that the program is fully funded.”
http://www.barbaraboxer.com/tools/documents/files/Boxer-African-American-1.pdf
Cost: $1.334 billion (first-year
cost).
Note: The President’s Fiscal Year 2011 Budget requests $1.166
billion in FY 2011 for
21st Century Community Learning Centers. Senator Boxer submitted
Senate Amendment 953 to the concurrent resolution for Senate Conference
Resolution 13 (page S4392 of the Congressional
Record), which requested $2.5 billion in annual funding for the centers.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/budget/fy2011/assets/edu.pdf
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?dbname=2009_record&page=S4392&position=all
C.
BioTech:
“She
is also a strong supporter of various efforts to nurture the biotech industry,
including increasing research funding for the National Institutes of Health …
and supporting the Human Genome Project.”
http://www.barbaraboxer.com/tools/documents/files/Boxer-Technology-1.pdf
Cost: Unknown.
Note: According to the President’s
Fiscal Year 2011 Budget, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) received $31.807
billion in FY 2010 and requested $37.289 billion in FY 2011. NIH received $10.4
billion in American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funds in fiscal years 2009
and 2010. It is unclear how much additional funding Senator Boxer would support
beyond these levels.
http://www.nih.gov/about/director/02252009statement_arra.htm
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/budget/fy2011/assets/hhs.pdf
D.
School Lunches:
“Senator
Boxer introduced legislation to establish new nutritional guidelines for school
lunches and to include time in the school day for physical activity. She also
supports efforts to help schools better manage food allergies among students.”
http://www.barbaraboxer.com/tools/documents/files/Boxer-Children-1.pdf
Cost: $150 million (first-year cost).
Source: Senator Boxer has sponsored S. 3144
(111th Congress), a bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National
School Lunch Act to improve the health and well-being of school children, and
for other purposes. The text authorizes the funding.
E.
Student Borrower Bill of Rights:
“To
ensure that those with student loans can get timely information about their
loans from banks and other financial institutions – and so they can make fair
and reasonable payments – Senator Boxer supports legislation to create a
student borrower’s Bill of Rights.”
http://www.barbaraboxer.com/tools/documents/files/Boxer-Education-1.pdf
Cost: Unknown.
Note: Senator Boxer cosponsored S. 511
(110th Congress), the Student Borrower Bill of Rights Act, a bill to
provide student borrowers with basic rights, including the right to timely
information about their loans and the right to make fair and reasonable loan
payments, and for other purposes. The bill could also have an impact on federal
loan programs through a limit on monthly payment amounts. A cost estimate is
unavailable. Similar legislation has not been introduced in the 111th
Congress.
F.
Student Loan Repayment:
“Boxer
supports having the federal government pay off a student’s loan if he or she
serves in certain health care professions, in a Head Start program, or as an
attorney for low-income individuals.”
http://www.barbaraboxer.com/tools/documents/files/Boxer-Education-1.pdf
Cost: Unknown.
- Health
Care Professionals (Unknown): Related legislation has been introduced in the
form of S. 860 (111th Congress), the Health Professionals State Loan
Repayment Tax Relief Act of 2009. The bill would allow health professionals to
exclude student loan payments from federal income tax payments. S. 860 is a
revenue measure and would not affect future outlays.
- Head
Start Loan Forgiveness (Unknown): Related legislation was introduced in the
form of H.R. 1429 (110th Congress), the Improving Head Start for
School Readiness Act of 2007. CBO estimated the Head Start loan forgiveness
provision would cost $110 million over five years. The bill was signed into law
in 2007.
http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/82xx/doc8229/hr1429.pdf
- Attorneys
for Low-Income Individuals (Unknown): Related legislation has been introduced in
the form of S. 718 (111th Congress), the Civil Access to Justice Act
of 2009. Section 8 would establish a Pilot Loan Repayment Assistance Program. A
specific cost estimate is unavailable.
G.
Stem Cell Research:
“Senator
Boxer supports stem cell research and has worked to ensure that critical
research to benefit those suffering from some of the most devastating diseases
and conditions can proceed.”
http://www.barbaraboxer.com/tools/documents/files/Boxer-Health-Care-1.pdf
Cost: Unknown.
Note: Senator Boxer has cosponsored S.
3766 (111th Congress), the Stem Cell
Research Advancement Act of 2010. Senator Boxer has also cosponsored S. 487
(111th Congress), the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2009. Cost
estimates for both bills are currently unavailable.
H.
Training Workers:
“Senator
Boxer believes we need to increase the capacity of the American workforce to
fill jobs in the technology industry. In that light, she supports increased
funding for math, science, and technology education.”
http://www.barbaraboxer.com/tools/files/files/Boxer-Small-Business.pdf
Cost: Unknown.
Note: In an accompanying report for H.R.
2847 (111th Congress), the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE)
Act, the Committee recommended $1.049 billion for expanding science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education funding. The HIRE Act
became law (PL 111-147), but this funding recommendation was not part of the
final legislation that the President signed. It is unclear how much additional
funding Senator Boxer would support beyond these levels and if she would support
the Committee’s recommendation.
http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/?&sid=cp111uRLDc&refer=&r_n=hr149.111&db_id=111&item=&sel=TOC_12163&
Energy,
Environment, and Agriculture: Unknown
A.
Superfund Cleanup:
“Senator
Boxer is fighting for an expanded Superfund program – to clean up toxic waste
sites around the country, many of which are located in low-income
neighborhoods. In addition, she supports reinstating the requirement that
polluters – not taxpayers – pay for the cleanup of toxic Superfund sites.”
http://www.barbaraboxer.com/tools/documents/files/Boxer-African-American-1.pdf
Cost: Unknown.
Note: Senator Boxer is a cosponsor of S.
3164 (111th Congress), the Polluter
Pays Restoration Act. A cost estimate of
outlay effects, if any, is currently unavailable.
Health: $4.816
billion
A.
Child Care Credit:
“Senator
Boxer is a long-time supporter and cosponsor of legislation to increase federal
support for child care funding so more parents can afford to send their
children to quality child care programs.”
http://www.barbaraboxer.com/tools/documents/files/Boxer-Children-1.pdf
Cost: $4.22 billion ($21.1 billion
over five years).
Source: Senator Boxer is the sponsor S.
210 (111th Congress), the Right Start Child Care and Education Act
of 2009. A cost estimate was obtained from the Tax Policy Center (2007).
http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/UploadedPDF/411474_child_tax.pdf
B.
Contraceptives – Emergency:
“Senator
Boxer supports efforts to require hospitals to offer rape victims emergency
contraception. She also supports funding for a public education campaign about
the use, safety, and availability of emergency contraception.”
http://www.barbaraboxer.com/tools/documents/files/Boxer-Women-1.pdf
Cost: $1 million ($5 million over
five years).
Source: Related legislation has been
introduced in the form of H.R. 1236 (111th Congress), the
Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies Act of 2009. The text authorizes
the funding. H.R. 1236 was included in S. 21 (111th Congress), the Prevention
First Act, which Senator Boxer cosponsored (the legislation has not been passed
into law).
C.
Contraceptives – Insurance Coverage:
“Senator
Boxer supports legislation requiring health insurance policies to cover
prescription contraceptives – and legislation to ensure that pharmacies fulfill
a woman’s prescription for contraceptives.”
http://www.barbaraboxer.com/tools/documents/files/Boxer-Health-Care-1.pdf
Cost: Unknown.
Source: Related legislation was
introduced in the form of S. 3068 (110th Congress), the Equity in
Prescription Insurance and Contraceptive Coverage Act of 2007. A cost estimate
is unavailable. S. 3068 was included in S. 21 (111th Congress), the
Prevention First Act, which Senator Boxer cosponsored (the legislation has not
been passed into law).
D.
Contraceptives – Medicaid:
“Senator
Boxer supports increased coverage of and access to contraceptives under the
Medicaid program for low-income Americans.”
http://www.barbaraboxer.com/tools/documents/files/Boxer-Women-1.pdf
Cost: Unknown.
Note: Related legislation has been introduced in the form of S. 1075 (110th
Congress), the Unintended Pregnancy Reduction Act of 2007. A cost estimate is
unavailable. S. 1075 was included in S. 21 (111th Congress), the
Prevention First Act, which Senator Boxer cosponsored (the legislation has not
been passed into law).
E.
Heart Disease and Strokes - Women:
“She
supports legislation to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of
heart disease and strokes in women.”
http://www.barbaraboxer.com/tools/documents/files/Boxer-Health-Care-1.pdf
Cost: $58 million ($292 million over
five years).
Source: Senator Boxer has cosponsored S.
422 (111th Congress), the Heart Disease Education, Analysis Research,
and Treatment for Women Act. The estimate is based on the text of the bill and
budget baselines.
F.
Postpartum Depression:
“She
supports legislation to provide education for mothers about postpartum
depression and anxiety, increase research into postpartum depression, and
provide for postnatal screening services.”
http://www.barbaraboxer.com/tools/documents/files/Boxer-Health-Care-1.pdf
Cost: $4 million ($18 million over
five years).
Note: CBO cost estimate for S. 324 (111th
Congress), the Melanie Blocker Stokes MOTHERS Act. A CBO cost estimate for the bill’s
House companion, H.R. 20, projected $18 million over five years.
http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/87xx/doc8705/hr20revised.pdf
G.
Public Option:
Panelist:
“If you are reelected, would you support an effort to add the public option to
the law?”
Boxer:
“I would.”
http://media.scpr.org/audio/upload/2010/09/29/boxer-fiorina-KPCCdebate.mp3 (min. 37:40)
Cost: $533 million ($1.6 billion
over five years).
Source: H.R. 5808 (111th Congress), a bill to
amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to establish a public health insurance option. The estimate is based on the text of
the bill and CBO data.
http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/116xx/doc11689/Stark_Letter-HR_5808-07-22.pdf
Homeland
Security and Law Enforcement: $6.84 billion
A.
First Responders:
“Senator
Boxer is fighting to increase funding for local police departments, fire
departments, and paramedics – the first responders who are on the front lines
of public safety.”
http://www.barbaraboxer.com/tools/documents/files/Boxer-Law-Enforcement-1.pdf
Cost: Unknown.
Note: Related legislation has been
introduced in the form of S. 1694 (111th Congress), a bill to allow
the funding for the interoperable emergency communications grant program
established under the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005
to remain available until expended through fiscal year 2012, and for other
purposes, and S. 3625 (111th Congress), the First Responders
Protection Act of 2010. Both pieces of legislation provide standards and grants
for the broadcast spectrum needs of public safety agencies. Cost estimates for the
bills are currently unavailable.
B.
Police Retirement Benefits:
“She
supports legislation to ensure that retired [police] officers and their spouses
receive their full retirement benefits by ending the benefit reduction that
many receive in Social Security.”
http://fora.tv/2010/08/31/Barbara_Boxer_Jobs_the_Economy_and_Californias_Future
Cost: $6.84 billion ($34.2 billion over five
years).
Note: Senator Boxer cosponsored S. 484
(111th Congress), the Social Security
Fairness Act of 2009. A cost estimate
was obtained from a 2007 Social Security Administration Chief Actuary report.
http://www.fop.net/legislative/issues/social/index.shtm
Immigration:
Unknown.
A.
Comprehensive Immigration Reform:
“Senator
Boxer supports comprehensive immigration reform that includes both a path to
citizenship and tougher border security.”
http://www.barbaraboxer.com/tools/documents/files/Boxer-Civil-Rights-1.pdf
Cost: Unknown.
Note: Senator Boxer cosponsored S. 9
(110th Congress), the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007.
A cost estimate is unavailable. Boxer also voted for S. 611 (109th
Congress), the Emergency Medical Services Support Act. CBO estimated S. 611
would cost $5 million over five years.
http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/65xx/doc6509/s611.pdf
In August 2010, President Obama signed H.R.
6080 (111th Congress), a bill making emergency supplemental
appropriations for border security for the fiscal year ending September 30,
2010, and for other purposes. The bill increased funding for more agents and
equipment along the Mexican border. Media reports cite $600 million as a total
cost.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/aug/13/obama-signs-600m-border-security-bill-law/
Furthermore, Senator Boxer voted for S.
2611 (109th Congress), the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of
2006, which would have created a process for long-time illegal aliens to gain
citizenship. The bill also would have created a temporary worker program. CBO
estimated that S. 2611 would have increased mandatory spending for federal
benefit programs such as Medicaid, Social Security, Medicare, and Food Stamps
by $12.9 billion over five years. In addition, enforcement and border security
provisions would have cost $25.2 billion over five years.
http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=7501&zzz=34050
However, Senator Boxer also notes on her
campaign website that “…she has long opposed
the creation of a guestworker program, which is designed to create a permanent
pool of low-paid workers and may actually have the effect of increasing illegal
immigration.”
http://www.barbaraboxer.com/tools/documents/files/Boxer-Civil-Rights-1.pdf
Since
S. 2611 did include a guest worker program, it is unclear which cost elements
of that legislation could now be attributable to Senator Boxer’s current agenda
for immigration reform.
B.
Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act:
“We
have a recent study from USC [University of Southern California]… that said the
way to get this economy going again is to go with comprehensive immigration
reform. Now the DREAM Act is part of that.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nubghKQIUQE&feature=player_embedded#!
Cost: Unknown.
Note: Senator Boxer is a cosponsor of S.
729 (111th Congress), the DREAM Act. The DREAM Act would adjust the
status of certain undocumented alien children to conditional legal permanent
resident status if they meet specific criteria. In the 108th
Congress, CBO estimated that S. 1545, the DREAM Act, would have a minimal cost
over the first five years, but would eventually cost upwards of $15 million a
year for increased Medicaid and Food Stamp expenses for which the children
would become eligible. Given the recent legislative changes to federal student
loan programs and the changes made to Medicaid in the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act, it is uncertain what the current cost of this legislation
might be.
http://www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=4981&type=0
Veterans: $2.704
billion
A.
Concurrent Receipt:
“Senator
Boxer strongly supports allowing concurrent receipt of retirement benefits and
disability pay.”
http://www.barbaraboxer.com/tools/documents/files/Boxer-Veterans-1.pdf
Cost: $2.704 billion ($13.518
billion over five years).
Source: Senator Boxer has cosponsored S.
546 (111th Congress), the Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2009. A CBO
cost estimate is currently available.
http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/103xx/doc10346/SprattLtrRetirementLegislation.pdf
B.
Higher Education Benefits for Military Members:
“Senator
Boxer supports deferring all student loan repayments for members of the
military in a combat zone and for the first six months after they return home.”
http://www.barbaraboxer.com/tools/documents/files/Boxer-Education-1.pdf
Cost: Unknown.
National Defense
and International Relations: -$36 million (savings)
A.
AIDS in Africa:
“As a member of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Boxer has been one the leaders in the
Senate in the effort to fund international HIV/AIDS relief – a disease that
reached epidemic proportions in sub-Saharan Africa. She has introduced
legislation to dramatically increase funding for the U.S. Agency for
International Development’s HIV/AIDS program, and she continues to push for
even greater funding.”
http://www.barbaraboxer.com/tools/documents/files/Boxer-African-American-1.pdf
Cost: Unknown.
Note: It is unclear which specific
programs Senator Boxer would expand or establish. Senator Boxer cosponsored S.
805 (110th Congress), the African Health Capacity Investment Act of
2007. CBO estimated that S. 805 would cost $523 million over five years. However,
NTUF was unable to determine if all the provisions in that bill eventually
became part of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which
was renewed in 2008 at a total cost of $48 billion over five years (2009-2013).
http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/86xx/doc8645/s805.pdf
http://www.avert.org/aids-funding.htm
B.
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”:
“Senator
Boxer believes that gay men and lesbians should be able to serve their country
openly in the military.”
Cost: -$36 million (-$180 million over five years).
Source:
Senator Boxer cosponsored H.R. 1283 (111th Congress), the Military
Readiness Enhancement Act of 2009. A University of California report
estimates the cost of discharging service members and then recruiting and
training their replacements to have been $364 million over the first decade of
the policy.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/13/AR2006021302373.html.
Miscellaneous –
Federal Government: $39 million
A.
Federal Workforce – Partner Benefits:
“Senator
Boxer supports marriage equality and was an early opponent of [California] Proposition
8.”
http://www.barbaraboxer.com/tools/documents/files/Boxer-LGBT-1.pdf
Cost: $39 million ($196 million over
five years).
Source: Senator
Boxer has cosponsored S. 1102 (111th Congress), the Domestic
Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009.
A CBO cost estimate is currently available.
http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/114xx/doc11494/s1102.pdf
PDF
Policy Paper
