November SnapshotThe National Taxpayers Union Foundation (NTUF) presents a monthly overview of the bills we scored in November, including cost estimates and sponsorship data. Please note that the estimates are preliminary and that NTUF revises estimates as new data becomes available. Links to each Member's BillTally report are for the previous Congress. For more information on how NTUF scores legislation, BillTally's methodology is available here. By The NumbersDuring the month of November, NTUF analysts scored 309 bills to determine their impact on the federal budget. Of those, 176 were House bills with 110 introduced in the past month. In the Senate, 133 bills were able to be scored, including 77 bills drafted in November. In an effort to include as many savings proposals as possible in the Taxpayer's Tab: Super Committee Failure Edition, NTUF endeavored to finalize estimates for dozens of potential savings bills. Many of those bills included across-the-board spending limits and caps. The 176 House bills scored in NTUF in November would decrease spending by $316.7 billion a year. Totals exclude offsetting provisions. The largest spending increase proposals include: - H.R. 12, to extend payroll tax cuts and provide funding for unemployment programs at a five-year cost of $172.1 billion.
- H.R. 3490, to provide school districts with building modernization grants, resulting in $30 billion in new spending.
- H.R. 3502, to repair foreclosed and abandoned residential and commercial properties, which would authorize $14.7 billion over five years.
House savings legislation includes: - H.R. 2041, to establish federal spending caps at a savings of $562 billion over two years.
- H.R. 2319, to cap federal spending and create an agency sunset commission at a net savings of $406.5 billion over four years.
- H.R. 3243, to eliminate certain federal health programs and limit the expansion of other health initiatives, saving $167 billion over five years.
House Bills Scored by NTUF in November (in billions of dollars) | | Number of Bills | Net Annualized Cost/Savings | Average Cost/Savings | Average Number of Sponsors | Spending Increase Bills | 32 | $35.2 | $1.3 | 13.4 | Spending Cut Bills | 23 | ($351.9) | ($18.5) | 24.4 | No Net Cost Bills | 119 | $0 | $0 | 10.4 | Excluded* | 2 | N/A | N/A | 3.5 | Total | 176 | ($316.7) | | | * Excluded Bills are not applicable under BillTally Methodology Source: NTUF BillTally System |
Senators proposed $450 billion in net savings. Totals exclude offsetting provisions. The largest spending increase proposals include: - S. 1769, to establish an infrastructure financing authority and fund "shovel-ready" short-term projects at a five-year cost of $40.7 billion.
- S. 1321, to reopen offshore oil drilling and award state and local energy efficiency grants, resulting in $6.8 billion in new spending over five years.
- S. 1861, to increase unemployment program spending, costing $4.7 billion over three years.
Senate savings legislation includes: - S. 162, to make budgetary cuts to 46 federal entities at a savings of $406.2 billion over one year.
- S. 1290/S. 1340, to establish spending caps on all federal outlays at a savings of $354.6 billion in two years.
- S. 178, to return federal spending to 2008 levels and terminate certain programs at a net savings of $341.8 billion over five years.
Senate Bills Scored by NTUF in November (in billions of dollars) | | Number of Bills | Net Annualized Cost/Savings | Average Cost/Savings | Average Number of Sponsors | Spending Increase Bills | 31 | $12.7 | $0.4 | 4.3 | Spending Cut Bills | 21 | ($462.8) | ($38.6) | 11 | No Net Cost Bills | 80 | $0 | $0 | 4.3 | Excluded* | 1 | N/A | N/A | 2 | Total | 133 | ($450.1) | | | * Excluded Bills are not applicable under BillTally Methodology Source: NTUF BillTally System |
Know Your Cut BillsWith the addition of the 23 House and 21 Senate cost savings bills scored in November, NTUF's savings bill list for the 112th Congress now contains 208 bills. The 23 House savings bills would cut $351.9 billion. The Senate's 21 bills would cut $462.8 billion. The full spreadsheet can be accessed here. All told, the House has proposed 130 savings bills with an annualized savings of $537 billion. The Senate has thus far proposed 78 bills that could save taxpayers $725.5 billion annually. All totals exclude overlapping measures.House StatsThe following sponsorship figures are based on the House bills that were scored by NTUF within the month of November (totals include both sponsors and cosponsors):Senate StatsThe following sponsorship figures are based on the Senate bills that were scored by NTUF within the month of November (totals include both sponsors and cosponsors):Friendship CircleCosponsoring bills not only shows direct support for specific legislation but it can provide insight into national issues. Below are bills that had the most cosponsors in BillTally's three established bill categories. You can join the discussion with fellow citizens and policy experts at WashingtonWatch.com.Most Friended House Bills- Spending Increase Bill: H.R. 12, American Jobs Act of 2011 - 99 cosponsors - sponsored by John Larson (D-CT)
- Spending Cut Bill: H.R. 674, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the imposition of 3 percent withholding on certain payments made to vendors by government entities, to modify the calculation of modified adjusted gross income for purposes of determining eligibility for certain healthcare-related programs, and for other purposes - 269 cosponsors - sponsored by Wally Herger (R-CA)
- No Cost Bill: H.R. 3421, Fallen Heroes of 9/11 Act - 197 cosponsors - sponsored by Bill Shuster (R-PA)
Most Friended Senate Bills- Spending Increase Bill: S. 1769, Rebuild America Jobs Act - 23 cosponsors - sponsored by Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
- Spending Cut Bill: S. 1340, Cut, Cap, and Balance Act of 2011 - 39 cosponsors - sponsored by Mike Lee (R-UT)
- No Cost Bill: S. 720, Repeal the CLASS Entitlement Act - 42 cosponsors - sponsored by John Thune (R-SD)
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Support NTUF The National Taxpayers Union Foundation is able to produce timely reports and analysis for policymakers and taxpayers with the help and support of foundations, small businesses, and Americans who wish to stay informed of their government's spending. With donations from Tab subscribers and members, NTUF will be able to continue to simplify important entitlement reform plans, examine budgets, and score legislation. Please consider making a tax-free contribution to NTUF.
About NTUF The National Taxpayers Union Foundation is a research and educational organization dedicated solely to helping citizens of all generations understand how tax policies, spending programs, and regulations at all levels affect them now and in the future. Through NTUF's timely information, analysis, and commentary, we're empowering citizens to actively engage in the fiscal policy debate and hold public officials accountable every day. NTUF is a 501(c)(3) research and education organization. Donations are deductible for personal income tax purposes. Please make a donation today to help further NTUF's mission of research and education! This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to aid or hinder the passage of any legislation or as a comment on any Member's fitness to serve. Cosponsor information obtained from GovTrack.us.
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