2301 and 2305: It's budget season in DC. A handful of players have introduced their proposed budgets. I want you to look at three of them and compare them. First, I want you to find out what stage in the budgetary process we are in, and what the significance is of the timing of the release of each plan. Soon enough we will be looking at the budgetary process so this will help you get a head start in it. Then I want you to discuss the different visions of the role of government each contains. Do they each share the same idea about what the primary economic problem the nation faces is? How do they propose solving that - and other - problems? Head off in whatever direction seems fruitful to you after that. The purpose is to not only become familiar with the budgetary process, but the ideological disputes over what the US budget should look like.
Here are links to three budgetary proposals made so far:
- The House Republican Plan (the Paul Ryan budget)
- The Senate Democratic Plan
- The Congressional Progressive Caucus Plan
I'll link to commentary over the next few days.
2302 and 2306: I posted below about the last day to file bills in the Texas Legislature (last Friday). Now comes committee hearings and floor action, but various commentators have weighed in on the nature of the bill introduced and what this says about the nature of the 83rd Legislative session. Now its your turn.
What does the content of the bill introduced this session tell us about the priotities of this session? If you want to focus on certain bills that have been introduced, go for it. What types os bills do you think are likely to pass?
