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CQ Budget

CQ Roll Callwww.rollcall.com
CQ Roll Call’s budget tracker David Lerman explains how lawmakers in Congress spend the nation’s money.
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Episodes

Politics of stopgap spending

Congress has three weeks to pass an election-season funding extension to head off a partial shutdown. House Republicans hope to win political talking points by including a measure designed to ensure that non-citizens can't vote by requiring proof of citizenship to register. They also want to punt final spending bills into March in hopes of increasing their leverage after the November elections. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley and David Lerman assess the obstacles and political pressures at play in ...

Sep 09, 202424 min

Spending bill punts

Senate appropriators scrapped plans to take up their Homeland Security bill this week, while the House punted on three spending bills before leaving town for an extended summer recess. CQ Roll Call's Aidan Quigley, Valerie Yurk and David Lerman discuss the latest setbacks to the appropriations process and the challenge awaiting Congress this fall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 29, 202424 min

Appropriations derailed

House leaders decided to punt on two of the four spending bills they had hoped to pass this week, and plans for votes next week could be scrapped entirely. Senate appropriators, meanwhile, will try to mark up four more of their bills this week without a bipartisan agreement on discretionary spending limits. CQ Roll Call's Peter Cohn and David Lerman discuss the state of the appropriations process as election-year pressures continue to build. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/a...

Jul 22, 202423 min

GOP's political edge

The presidential debate put Democrats on the defensive, led to calls for President Joe Biden to step aside, and left Republicans feeling emboldened. CQ Roll Call's Caitlin Reilly and David Lerman discuss what those political dynamics may mean for tax policy and the appropriations process, which ramps up in the Senate this week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 08, 202424 min

Law enforcement funding battle

A Commerce-Justice-Science spending bill drafted by House Republicans has triggered partisan disputes over federal law enforcement funding and policies as the GOP majority tries to rein in the Biden administration Justice Department. Senate appropriators, meanwhile, are preparing to begin their own markups as early as next week. CQ Roll Call's Ryan Tarinelli, Paul M. Krawzak and David Lerman outline the flashpoints in the Commerce-Justice-Science bill and the game plan for Senate appropriators. ...

Jul 01, 202425 min

Border security and foreign aid fights

The House plans to take up its spending bills this week for the Homeland Security Department and the State Department and related agencies. CQ Roll Call's Rachel Oswald, Michael Macagnone and David Lerman preview the likely floor fights on those bills and what they mean for the appropriations process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 24, 202426 min

Spending caps in peril

A budget caps agreement for the coming fiscal year could be falling apart after the Senate Armed Services Committee approved a defense authorization bill that would bust the cap on defense spending by $28 billion. And Republicans are starting to plan for an extension of tax cuts that are set to expire next year. CQ Roll Call's Paul M. Krawzak, Caitlin Reilly and David Lerman discuss the state of the budget caps deal, the appropriations process, and the fate of Trump-era tax cuts. Learn more abou...

Jun 17, 202425 min

Defense spending schism

The House is set to pass a defense policy bill authorizing a 1 percent spending increase, but Senate Republicans are pushing for a bigger defense increase that would bust a budget cap set last year. CQ Roll Call's Caroline Coudriet and David Lerman preview the coming battle over defense spending and the legislative action in both chambers on their competing versions of the annual defense authorization bill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 10, 202425 min

Appropriations sprint begins

House leaders begin a two-month sprint this week to move all 12 of their GOP-backed fiscal 2025 spending bills across the floor before the August recess. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Aidan Quigley assess the obstacles to that goal, the potential impact of Donald Trump's felony convictions, and the primary election threat facing the new House Appropriations Committee chairman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 03, 202423 min

Food stamps fight

An ideological fight over food stamp benefits threatens to derail the five-year farm bill reauthorization. CQ Roll Call agriculture reporter Olivia Bridges and host David Lerman discuss the partisan divide over the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and other major sticking points in farm bill negotiations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 28, 202423 min

Funding allocations trouble

House appropriators kick off their annual markups this week while the House Armed Services Committee marks up its defense authorization bill. But a tight cap on defense spending has left defense hawks frustrated, and proposed cuts to nondefense spending have Democrats gearing up for a protracted battle. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman, Aidan Quigley and John M. Donnelly assess the fiscal 2025 House spending allocations and what they may mean for the appropriations process. Learn more about your ad c...

May 20, 202429 min

Weapons freeze backlash

The Biden administration decision to hold up a shipment of weapons to Israel has triggered an outcry from Republicans, as the House pushes a new bill to lift the freeze and hold some spending hostage. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Peter Cohn assess the latest on the Gaza war, House appropriations, the FAA bill and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 13, 202430 min

Aviation bill dogfight

Congress is scrambling to complete work this week on the Federal Aviation Administration bill before key authorities expire on May 10. But a push for amendments, including some with hefty price tags, is threatening to gum up the works. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Valerie Yurk outline the major obstacles to the five-year FAA bill and assess its prospects for passage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 06, 202426 min

Earmarks culture war

House Republicans are imposing new restrictions on earmarks as a partisan divide over cultural issues widens. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Aidan Quigley explain the latest battle over congressionally directed funding and what the changes mean for the appropriations process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 29, 202422 min

Politics of Ukraine aid

The House finally broke a logjam that held up Ukraine aid for months, but a majority of Republicans voted against the aid and Speaker Mike Johnson's job is on the line as a result. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and John M. Donnelly assess the shifting politics over Ukraine and foreign policy in the Republican Party of Donald Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 22, 202434 min

Johnson's conundrum

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., faces pressure from all sides after promising to take up an aid bill for Israel this week that may or may not include money for Ukraine. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Peter Cohn assess the embattled speaker's options on a national security supplemental spending package. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 15, 202423 min

Tumultuous appropriations cycle

Final fiscal 2024 appropriations came nearly six months late, left Republicans divided and bitter, triggered the ouster of a House speaker, and put a new speaker on notice that his own ouster could come next. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Aidan Quigley recap the drama of the just-completed appropriations cycle and assess what it means politically for a Ukraine aid package and fiscal 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 29, 202432 min

Biden's budget dissected

President Joe Biden's fiscal 2025 budget request offers up election-year domestic initiatives from child care to affordable housing while promising to reduce deficits from projected levels over the coming decade. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman, Aidan Quigley, Caitlin Reilly and Paul M. Krawzak dissect the budget request and its prospects in Congress in a webinar presentation for CQ subscribers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 25, 202432 min

Dueling claims on new spending package

Both parties claimed victories in the six-bill appropriations package unveiled Sunday for the current fiscal year. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman, Aidan Quigley and Peter Cohn outline some of the winners and losers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 04, 202425 min

Appropriations impasse

Congress is barreling toward a March 1 funding deadline with all signs pointing to gridlock on appropriations bills. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman, Aidan Quigley and Paul M. Krawzak dissect the latest setback and potential next steps on both appropriations and a stalled war funding package. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 26, 202426 min

War funding makes headway

The Senate appeared on a glide path toward passing a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan after months of stalemate over efforts to better secure the U.S. southern border. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman and Peter Cohn assess the prospects for the long-stalled aid package and the obstacles that still lie ahead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 12, 202426 min

Border-war aid package on tortured path

A $118 billion package for Ukraine, Israel and border security now faces tough sledding in the Senate and even longer odds in the House. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman, Mark Satter and Caitlin Reilly assess the prospects for the long-stalled emergency spending measure and two tax bills waiting in the wings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 05, 202433 min

Appropriations breakthrough and tax bill uncertainty

Top appropriators reached a deal on fiscal 2024 spending allocations, while a bipartisan tax package faces a backlash. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman, Aidan Quigley and Caitlin Reilly assess the state of play on appropriations, taxes, and the Senate's war funding and border security package. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 29, 202424 min

Prospects for tax and border deals

House tax writers approved a package of tax breaks for businesses and low-income families, while Senate leaders appeared increasingly optimistic about reaching a border security compromise that would clear the way for aid to Ukraine and Israel. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman, Caitlin Reilly and John M. Donnelly assess the prospects for both measures and outline the challenges they face for passage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 22, 202425 min

Under the gun

Congress is scrambling to pass another stopgap funding bill this week to avoid a partial government shutdown. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman, Aidan Quigley and Paul M. Krawzak outline the political and logistical obstacles lawmakers face while they also try to make headway on final appropriations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 16, 202428 min

Familiar spending deal

Congressional leaders reached a new accord on topline discretionary spending levels that looks a lot like the agreement struck in last year's debt limit law. But there's little time left to complete final appropriations bills before current stopgap funding runs dry. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman, Aidan Quigley and Paul M. Krawzak assess the politics surrounding the new deal and what it may mean for the long-delayed appropriations process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi...

Jan 08, 202429 min

Showdown on the border

The Senate is staying in town in hopes of passing a war funding and border security package by Christmas, but the politics of immigration pose a major stumbling block. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman, Aidan Quigley and John M. Donnelly assess the chances of a bipartisan deal and the obstacles that lie ahead for passage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 15, 202329 min

Crunch time for topline funding deal, supplemental

House Republicans are digging in for a fight over fiscal 2024 spending levels that Democrats in both chambers and many GOP senators thought were settled months ago, while an emergency war funding package remains in limbo. CQ Roll Call's Peter Cohn and Aidan Quigley discuss the stakes for lawmakers as they prepare to head for the exits as the holiday season approaches. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 08, 202331 min

Hard slog on war funds and appropriations

Negotiations over both emergency war funds and fiscal 2024 appropriations are proceeding at a snail's pace with little time left before the scheduled Christmas recess. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman, Aidan Quigley and John M. Donnelly discuss the state of play, as well as how much defense money is appropriated without any request from the Pentagon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 01, 202330 min

Stormy talks ahead

Lawmakers averted a shutdown as they left town for Thanksgiving but left a mountain of unfinished business. CQ Roll Call's David Lerman, Aidan Quigley and Peter Cohn outline what is needed to salvage fiscal 2024 appropriations and an emergency spending package for Israel, Ukraine and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 17, 202330 min
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