Crony Capitalism / Rent-Seeking / Corporate Welfare / Revolving Door (CongressionalGlossary.com)

Crony Capitalism / Rent-Seeking / Corporate Welfare / Revolving Door Corporate welfare refers to subsidies and regulatory protections that lawmakers confer on certain businesses and industries. When considering budget issues, federal policymakers are supposed to have the broad public interest in mind. Unfortunately, that is not how the federal budget process usually works in practice. … Read more

Zero Based Budgeting (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms “Zero Based Budgeting is a method of budgeting in which all expenses must be justified for each new period. Zero-based budgeting starts from a ‘zero base,’ and every function within an organization is analyzed for its needs and costs. Budgets are then built around what … Read more

Backdoor Authority / Backdoor Spending (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Backdoor Authority / Backdoor Spending A colloquial phrase for budget authority provided in laws other than appropriations acts, including contract authority and borrowing authority, as well as entitlement authority and the outlays that result from that budget authority.   Fiscal Law #1 – Overview   … Read more

Obligation (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Obligation photo credit: smudie A legally binding agreement that will result in outlays, immediately or in the future. A promise to pay. The obligation, the promise to pay, is the initial action in the Federal spending process. Appropriations laws establish whether funds are available to … Read more

Regular Appropriations / Supplemental Appropriations / Continuing Resolutions (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Regular Appropriations / Supplemental Appropriations / Continuing Resolutions There are three types of appropriations bills considered by the Congress. Regular appropriations bills provide funding to agencies for the next fiscal year, which runs from October 1 to September 30. Supplemental appropriations bills provide additional funding … Read more

Changes in Mandatory Program Spending / CHIMPS (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Changes in Mandatory Program Spending / CHIMPS   Sessions Unveils Amendments To Combat Billions In Spending Through Waste, Gimmicks   CHIMP is an acronym for a “CHange (either a cost or a savings) In a Mandatory Program” that is proposed or enacted in an appropriations … Read more

Office of Personnel Management / Other People’s Money / OPM (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Office of Personnel Management / Other People’s Money / OPM The core mission of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM): “serves the public by providing human resource management leadership and high-quality services that protect and strengthen the merit system of government in partnership with other … Read more

Official Objectors / Passed Over Without Prejudice (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Official Objectors / Passed Over Without Prejudice   The Sopranos – Ralph Gets Passed Over   Pass Over Without Prejudice: A request in the House to defer action on a measure called up from the Private Calendar without affecting the measure’s position on the calendar. … Read more

Optics (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Optics   Optical illusions show how we see | Beau Lotto   A “term of art for how a bit of news will be perceived by the public at large, which is only used by people who bill by the hour.” — Troy Senik “The … Read more

Super PAC / Independent Expenditure-Only Committee (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Super PAC / Independent Expenditure-Only Committee   PACS and Super PACs   “Super PAC” is the colloquial term for “Independent Expenditure-Only Committee”. Independent expenditures represent spending by individuals, groups, political committees, corporations or unions expressly advocating the election or defeat of clearly identified federal candidates. … Read more