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Wisconsin U.S. Senatorial Candidate Spending Analysis – Tammy Baldwin

Total Net Spending Agenda: $1.16 trillion

Economy, Transportation, and Infrastructure: $3 million

A. Pass the Paycheck Fairness Act:

“It’s time to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act to ensure that women have the resources they need. The ability to know they’re being properly compensated.”

http://www.tammybaldwin.com/news/2012/baldwin-pushes-for-equal-pay/

Cost: $3 million ($15 million over five years).

Source: Related legislation has been introduced in the form of H.R. 1519 (112^th Congress), the Paycheck Fairness Act. The bill would enhance regulations pertaining to equal pay. The text of the bill authorizes $15 million for compliance training, a grant program for negotiation skills training for girls and women, and for research, education and outreach. NTUF assumes the outlays would occur over five years. Representative Baldwin is a cosponsor of the bill.

B. Rebuild Infrastructure and Strengthen Manufacturing:

 “With cornerstone investments like … rebuilding our infrastructure [and] strengthening our manufacturing base … we will drive our economy forward.”

http://www.tammybaldwin.com/issues/economic-security/

“I believe that we need to invest in … rebuilding our roads and bridges so we can build a future with job growth and a strengthened middle class.”

http://www.tammybaldwin.com/news/2012/extend-middle-class-tax-cuts-make-rich-pay-more/

Cost: Unknown.

Note: NTUF is unable to estimate any costs that might be associated with this proposal due to the lack of details in Representative Baldwin’s statement.

Education, Science, and Research: $95 million

A. Increase Access to Higher Education:

“Fighting to make higher education more affordable, Tammy understands the importance of investing in Wisconsin’s public and private universities, technical schools and community colleges so that everyone has the skills and training they need to succeed. … To succeed in the future’s global economy, students from working and middle class families need access to college and technical schools.”

http://www.tammybaldwin.com/issues/investing-in-our-future/

Cost: $95 million ($475 million over five years) (partial).

Source:

• College Access: Unknown. Related legislation was introduced in the form of H.R. 2579 (111^th Congress), the Pathways to College Act. The bill would award grants to local educational agencies to improve college access. A cost estimate is currently not available. Representative Baldwin was a cosponsor of the bill.
• Technical Education: $95 million ($475 million over five years). Related legislation was introduced in the form of H.R. 2074 (111^th Congress), the Pathways Advancing Career Training Act. The bill would provide increased funding for technical education programs. The text of the bill authorized the spending. Representative Baldwin was a cosponsor of the bill.

B. Provide a Quality Education:

“Investing in [o]ur [f]uture[.] Providing everyone a quality, affordable education is the most important thing we can do to compete and win in the global economy.”

http://www.tammybaldwin.com/issues/investing-in-our-future/

Cost: Unknown.

Note: It is unclear what policies pursuant to this proposal to “provid[e] everyone with a quality affordable education” that Representative Baldwin would support in the Senate. The statement above was followed by a quotation describing related legislation she has sponsored to “improve access to early learning and child care programs.” She is a cosponsor of H.R. 2346 (112^th Congress), the Balancing Act of 2012. There are two titles of this bill that are related to her quotation: Title II includes $5.55 billion in funding over five years for child care programs, and Title III would authorize $150 billion over the next five years for a universal pre-kindergarten program. It is unclear if she intends to promote these specific proposals.

Note: “Throughout her career in public service, Tammy Baldwin has made investing in education a top priority. Tammy sponsored legislation to improve access to early learning and child care programs.”

http://www.tammybaldwin.com/issues/investing-in-our-future/

Energy, Agriculture, and the Environment: $208 million

A. Invest in Alternative Energy:

“In order to strengthen our manufacturing economy and create jobs we need to invest in clean energy technology and innovation.”

http://www.tammybaldwin.com/news/2012/investment-in-made-in-wisconsin-clean-energy-economy-will-strengthen-manufacturing/

Cost: $208 million ($1.04 billion over five years).

Note: Related legislation was introduced in the form of H.R. 5955 (112^th Congress), the Rural Energy Investment Act of 2012. The text of the bill authorized the spending. Baselines were attained from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s FY 2013 Budget Summary and Annual Performance Plan and Budget of the U.S. Government, Fiscal Year 2013, Appendix. Representative Baldwin is a cosponsor of the legislation.

http://www.obpa.usda.gov/budsum/FY13budsum.pdf

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/budget/fy2013/assets/agr.pdf

B. Repeal Farm Subsidies for Corporations:

“To reduce spending, Baldwin would take away subsidies to big corporate farms … .”

http://www.tammybaldwin.com/issues/fiscal-responsibility/

Cost: Unknown.

Note: It is unclear what specific spending reductions Representative Baldwin would support pursuant to this proposal. According to the Budget of the U.S. Government, Fiscal Year 2013, Historical Tables, page 74, the federal government spent $16 billion on farm income stabilization. An article published by the Maryland Reporter stated that “[s]eventy-five percent of the agricultural subsidies went to just 10% of the farming industry according to the Environmental Working Group’s 2012 Farm Subsidy database.”

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/budget/fy2013/assets/hist.pdf

http://marylandreporter.com/2012/09/12/new-farm-bill-would-aid-more-md-farmers-but-hurt-food-stamp-recipients/#ixzz27cAiZ4VQ

In the Budget of the U.S. Government, Fiscal Year 2012, Terminations, Reductions, and Savings, page 99, the Administration proposed reducing commodity payments to wealthy farmers, an option that was estimated to save $1.116 billion over five years.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/budget/fy2012/assets/trs.pdf

Health Care: $1.157 trillion

A. Allow for Prescription Drug Price Negotiation:

“To reduce spending, Baldwin would … reduce the cost of prescription drugs under Medicare by ending taxpayer give-aways to the pharmaceutical industry – requiring that Medicare negotiate with prescription drug companies.”

http://www.tammybaldwin.com/issues/fiscal-responsibility/

Cost: Unknown.

Note: Related legislation has been introduced in the form of H.R 2248 (112^th Congress), the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2011. A cost estimate is currently not available. Representative Baldwin is not a cosponsor of this legislation.

A March 3, 2004 CBO letter to Senator Ron Wyden notes: “CBO has not estimated the effect on federal spending of authorizing the Secretary to negotiate prices for single-source drugs. The extent of any savings would depend significantly on the details of legislative language; a proposal that applied to a broader range of drugs could generate no savings or even increase federal costs. The effect on federal spending would also depend on how the Secretary would choose to exercise any new authority to negotiate prices.”

http://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/ftpdocs/51xx/doc5145/03-03-wyden.pdf

B. Institute a Single-Payer Care System:

“It’s time for a leader who puts the people first — a progressive champion with the courage to do what’s right. That’s Tammy Baldwin. ...A courageous fighter who isn’t afraid to stand up for single-payer health care ... .”

http://www.tammybaldwin.com/petition/w1109npif/

“She’s a … bold progressive unafraid to call for single-payer health care and true equality for all.”

http://www.tammybaldwin.com/petition/w1109nlsf/

Cost: $1.157 trillion (first-year cost).

Source: Related legislation has been introduced in the form of H.R. 676 (112^th Congress), the Expanded & Improved Medicare for All Act. The bill would expand health care coverage to all U.S. residents within a single-payer system. All for-profit insurance companies would be prohibited from selling medically necessary plans. Current federal and state government health care funding – including Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s health Insurance Program – would be diverted into the new program. NTUF determined the cost (a detailed table of the figures is presented below). Representative Baldwin is a cosponsor of the bill.

C. Preserve and Strengthen Medicare:

“… [Tammy]  is committed to preserving and strengthening Medicare … .”

http://www.tammybaldwin.com/issues/retirement-security/

Cost: Unknown.

Note: NTUF is unable to estimate any costs that might be associated with this proposal due to the lack of details in Representative Baldwin’s statement.

Homeland Security and Law Enforcement: $121 million

A. Pass the Violence Against Women Act:

“Tammy supports a comprehensive and inclusive reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act to protect all victims of domestic violence, including college students, native Americans, immigrants, and LGBT individuals.”

http://www.tammybaldwin.com/issues/equality/

Cost: $121 million ($607 million over five years).

Source: Related legislation has been introduced in the form of S. 1925 (112^th Congress), the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2011. The bill would continue to fund and expand federal programs to provide assistance to victims of violence and help prevent crimes from occurring in the future. A CBO cost estimate is available. The figure above represents the net annual change in spending based on the data in CBO’s report. A companion version was introduced in the House of Representative as H.R. 4271 and Representative Baldwin is a cosponsor of the bill.

http://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/s1925.pdf

National Security and International Relations: Unknown

A. Bring Troops Home from Afghanistan:

“To reduce spending, Baldwin would … bring our troops home from Afghanistan … .”

http://www.tammybaldwin.com/issues/fiscal-responsibility/

Cost: Unknown.

Note: Related legislation has been introduced in the form of H.R. 780 (112^th Congress), the Responsible End to the War in Afghanistan Act. The bill would limit funds spent in Afghanistan to only include a “safe and orderly withdrawal of military and Department of Defense contractor personnel.” A cost estimate is currently not available. Representative Baldwin is a cosponsor of the bill.

Actual savings will depend on the timeline for removal of all U.S. forces from Afghanistan. In the Budget of the U.S. Government, Fiscal Year 2013, Summary Tables, page 239, the Administration requested $96.7 billion in FY 2013 for what it labels “Overseas Contingency Operations,” i.e., spending related to the military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Budget also called for $44.2 billion per year for Fiscal Years 2014 to 2022. In May, 2012, President Obama said, “Last year, we removed 10,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan. Another 23,000 will leave by the end of the summer. After that, reductions will continue at a steady pace, with more and more of our troops coming home. And as our coalition agreed, by the end of 2014 the Afghans will be fully responsible for the security of their country.”

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/budget/fy2013/assets/tables.pdf

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/05/01/remarks-president-obama-address-nation-afghanistan

B. Impose Tariffs on China:

“… Tammy has fought unfair trade deals and she knows that when China cheats on trade and manipulates its currency, it costs us jobs. That is why she’s leading the fight, working with Republicans, to impose strong tariffs on China starting now … .”

http://www.tammybaldwin.com/issues/economic-security/

Cost: Unknown.

Note: Related legislation has been introduced in the form of H.R. 639 (112^th Congress), the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act. The bill would allow for duties to be imposed on imports from a country that undervalues its currency. There may be some administrative costs associated with the implementation of this proposal, but a cost estimate is currently not available. Representative Baldwin is a cosponsor on the bill.   

CBO estimated that related but more expansive legislation would cost $20 million over five years. S. 1607 (110^th Congress), the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act of 2007, would require the Department of the Treasury to identify undervalued foreign currencies and report recommended actions to be taken in response. The bill would also establish a new Advisory Committee on International Exchange Rate Policy. The bill was reintroduced as S. 1619 in the 112^th Congress.

http://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/ftpdocs/85xx/doc8538/s1607.pdf

Veterans: $2.736 billion

A. Employ Veterans:

“We need to make sure good-paying, family-supporting jobs are available for returning vets … .”

http://www.tammybaldwin.com/news/latest/2011/veterans-day-and-beyond/

“Tammy Baldwin has always believed that it is our country’s obligation, now more than ever, to support veterans’ programs and services as our troops return home from two wars. Tammy believes this support includes providing veterans with the economic security they deserve.”

http://www.tammybaldwin.com/news/2012/baldwin-campaign-launches-veterans-for-tammy/

Cost: $32 million ($75 million over five years) (partial).

Source: Related legislation has been introduced in the form of H.R. 1941 (112^th Congress), the Hiring Heroes Act of 2011. The bill would extend and expand transition and employment benefits for active and retired members of the Armed Forces. A CBO cost estimate is available for the Senate version, S. 951. Representative Baldwin is a cosponsor of the House bill.

https://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/ftpdocs/123xx/doc12303/s951.pdf

She is also a cosponsor of H.R. 5712 (112^th Congress), the Veterans Jobs Act of 2012. The bill would establish a pilot program to have community business leaders mentor members of the Armed Forces under the Transition Assistance Program. A cost estimate is currently unavailable.

Note: Representative Baldwin is also a cosponsor of H.R. 494 (112^th Congress), the 21st Century Civilian Conservation Corps Act. The bill authorizes $16 billion a year for four years to provide “gainful employment to unemployed and underemployed citizens” in a public works program. While employment in the Corps would not be offered exclusively to veterans, the bill mandates that “unemployed veterans of the Armed Forces and unemployed members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces” receive first priority in the hiring process.

B. Ensure Access to Health Care:

“We need to … ensure our vets have access to health care … .” http://www.tammybaldwin.com/news/latest/2011/veterans-day-and-beyond/

Cost: Unknown.

Note: Related legislation has been introduced in the form of H.R. 639 (112^th Congress), the Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act. The bill would prohibit certain increases in fees for military health care. A cost estimate is currently not available. Representative Baldwin is a cosponsor of the bill.

C. Guarantee Benefits:

“We need to … guarantee that those who have served all of us are receiving the benefits they have rightly earned.”

http://www.tammybaldwin.com/news/latest/2011/veterans-day-and-beyond/

Cost: $2.704 billion ($13.518 billion over five years).

Source: Related legislation has been introduced in the form of H.R. 303 (112^th Congress), the Retired Pay Restoration Act. The bill would lift the limitation on the concurrent receipt of retirement and disability benefits for certain veterans. Representative Baldwin is a cosponsor of the bill. A CBO cost estimate is available for S. 546, a retirement benefits bill introduced in the 111^th Congress.

http://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/ftpdocs/103xx/doc10346/sprattltrretirementlegislation.pdf

D. Invest in Mental Health Care for Veterans:

“Tammy remains deeply concerned about the increase in suicides among our troops and veterans and believes we must respond more effectively with investments in mental health care.”

http://www.tammybaldwin.com/news/2012/baldwin-fights-for-wisconsin-veterans/

Cost: Unknown.

Note: NTUF is unable to estimate any costs that might be associated with this proposal due to the lack of details in Representative Baldwin’s statement.

Fiscal Notes:

“By making sure that corporations, millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share, we can make investments that are vital to our economic recovery.”

http://www.tammybaldwin.com/issues/economic-security/

“Tammy Baldwin is committed to fiscal responsibility – reducing our debt and deficits with a balanced approach, fighting for responsibility and fairness.”

http://www.tammybaldwin.com/issues/fiscal-responsibility/

“With cornerstone investments like … reducing the tax burden on small businesses who create jobs, we will drive our economy forward.”

http://www.tammybaldwin.com/issues/economic-security/