Budget Watchdog All Federal
The podcast is dedicated to making sense of the budget, spending, and tax issues facing the nation. We cut through the partisan rhetoric and talking points to bring facts about what's being talked about, bandied about, and pushed in Washington. Budget Watchdog AF is brought to you by Taxpayers for Common Sense.
Budget Watchdog All Federal
Reconciliation Roulette: Congress's High-Stakes Budget Game
In this timely episode, TCS President Steve Ellis and Director of Research Josh Sewell dive deep into the complexities of budget reconciliation as Congress grapples with competing strategies in early 2025. They explore the stark differences between the House's "one big beautiful bill" approach and the Senate's two-bill strategy, breaking down how reconciliation works, its limitations under the Byrd Rule, and the massive fiscal implications of proposed spending increases and tax cut extensions. The conversation highlights the cognitive dissonance between simultaneous pushes for defense spending cuts and increases while examining how the process could add trillions to America's already staggering $36 trillion national debt.
