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The great economist Milton Friedman spent his life researching ways to improve America’s tax system and now it’s your turn to say which fundamental reforms need to happen. Knowing how Friedman also recognized the power of incentives, NTUF has prizes for some lucky winners, including a $50 Visa gift card, books, and other Team Taxpayer swag. Vote now!
We would like to thank Congressman Amash, his Scheduler Hayley Alexander, and NTU’s Federal Affairs Manager Nan Swift for making this meeting possible. Are you a student or recent graduate looking for a unique opportunity in the Washington, D.C.-area? NTU Foundation interns research and communicate government spending and help staff keep a tab on Congress. Check out the details and consider applying!
Use the special hashtag #YourRepYourTab to tweet out your elected officials' spending agendas! Last week, NTUF released the BillTally findings for the First Session of the 113th Congress and the data shows that although the legislative workload is titled in favor of new spending proposals, there are a number of Members whose agendas would find budgetary savings. The BillTally project analyzes nearly every bill introduced in Congress to determine the net changes in spending or savings that would result if enacted. With these cost estimates, NTUF researchers can calculate the spending agenda of each Member of Congress by adding up the costs and savings of the bills they sponsor or cosponsor. You can search for your state’s federal legislators and view a variety of data breakdowns. House of RepresentativesNTUF identified 496 increase bills and 112 savings bills among all the proposals introduced in the House. If all of the non-duplicate legislation were enacted into law, spending would increase by a net of $1.17 trillion, but when considering political parties, the average agendas show a fiscal divide in the types of spending bills supported. The average House Democrat sought to increase spending by $397 billion annually, nearly $100 billion less than the last Congress. Republican Representatives supported, on average, $83 billion in net budget cuts, $48 billion fewer cuts compared to the 112th Congress.  Below are the five largest net cut agendas in the House. A full agenda list can be downloaded here.
SenateSenators authored 332 increase bills and 56 savings bills that would, on net, increase the budget by $620 billion. The average Democratic Senator proposed to increase spending by a net of $18 billion per year, which is $5 billion less than the last Congress. The average Senate Republican supported $159 billion in net cuts ($80 billion fewer cuts than the previous Congress).  Below are the five largest net cut agendas in the Senate. A full agenda list can be downloaded here.
For media and special data requests, please contact Director of Research Demian Brady or Research & Outreach Manager Dan Barrett.
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This Wednesday, NTU Foundation’s interns had the distinct honor to meet with Michigan Representative Justin Amash, the only Member of Congress who uses social media to provide detailed explanations on each floor vote he casts. On the steps of the Capitol, our 11 research and communications interns, as well as two NTU Government Affairs interns, were given the opportunity to ask a Member of Congress questions such as what is the work-life balance for a Representative and what government programs would he change if given the opportunity. |