2018: Schweikert Voted To Amend The Constitution Where The Federal Government Must Have A Balanced Budget Unless Three-Fifths Of The House And The Senate Approve Of A Deficit, Except During War. In April 2018, Schweikert voted for a resolution that would have added a balanced budget requirement to the Constitution. According to Congressional Quarterly, the joint resolution would have "propose[d] a constitutional amendment that would require the U.S. government to operate under a balanced budget each year, beginning five years after ratification. Under the proposal, three-fifths of the entire House and Senate would [have] be[en] required to approve deficit spending or an increase in the public debt limit, but a simple majority would [have] be[en] sufficient to waive the requirement in times of congressionally declared war or in the face of a serious military threat." The vote was on a motion to suspend the rules and pass the resolution, which required a two-thirds majority to pass. The House rejected the motion by a vote of 233 to 184. [House Vote 138, 4/12/18; Congressional Quarterly, 4/12/18; Congressional Actions, H. J. Res. 2]
Republican's Tax Bill Was Estimated To Add $1.9 Trillion To The Federal Deficit. According to the Center for American Progress, "When that effort stalled, the majority regrouped and passed even bigger tax cuts that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates will add nearly $1.9 trillion to the federal deficit over the next 10 years, even after taking into account potential growth effects." [Center for American Progress, 4/11/18]
Congress Also Passed A $1.3 Trillion Omnibus Spending Bill That Went Above Discretionary Spending Caps. According to the Hill, "That commitment was called into question after Congress last month passed a $1.3 trillion funding package that shattered budget caps --- a move that came on the heels of last year's passage of a tax package that is also projected to add to the deficit." [The Hill, 4/12/18]
The CBO Found That As Result Of The Tax Bill And Omnibus Bill And Current Deficits, The Deficit Will Be Above $1 Trillion In 2020 And The National Debt Will Reach World War II Levels As A Percent Of GDP. According to the Hill, "A new report from the Congressional Budget Office this week found that the combination of the bipartisan spending bill and the GOP tax cuts would send deficits skyrocketing past $1 trillion by 2020 and increase the national debt burden to its highest level since World War II by the end of a decade. By 2025, interest on the debt alone is projected to cost more than defense or nondefense discretionary spending." [The Hill, 4/12/18]
Requiring A Balanced Budget Would Be Especially Harmful During A Recession When Spending Automatically Goes Up, Leading To Either Less Fiscal Help Or Higher Taxes, Either Of Which Would Only Makes The Recession Worse. According to the Center for American Progress, "And cuts would be even more drastic if the economy falls into a recession. Federal government revenues can be volatile during economic downturns. For example, in less than a year following the collapse of Lehman Brothers in September 2008, the federal government's projected revenue for FY 2009 dropped by 15 percent---and this is not even counting the effect of tax cuts Congress passed in response to the economic crisis. If that kind of scenario repeats itself, Social Security benefits and other government spending would have to be cut by 35 percent, if done across the board. That would be devastating for those who rely on Social Security and other government programs and, as discussed below, potentially catastrophic for the economy." [Center for American Progress, 4/11/18]
Medicaid, Social Security, Medicare And All Other Government Programs Are At Risk Of Cuts Under A Required Balanced Budget. According to the Center for American Progress, "No program would be protected from these severe cuts, including bulwarks such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Under the proposed amendment, Social Security and Medicare would not even be able to draw down their own trust funds to maintain benefits if the government, as a whole, were running a deficit." [Center for American Progress, 4/11/18]
2023: Schweikert Voted For A GOP Debt Limit Package, Which Would Require Congressional Approval For All "Major" Federal Rules That Would Have An Annual Fiscal Impact Of At Least $100 Million, Cause Price Increases, Or Cause Adverse Effects To Economic Competitiveness. In April 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023, which would "also establish a process to require congressional approval of all 'major' federal rules that would have an annual impact of at least $100 million, cause a major increase in prices, or cause significant adverse effects to economic competitiveness." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 217 to 215, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. [House Vote 199, 4/26/23; Congressional Quarterly, 4/26/23; Congressional Actions, H.R. 2811]
2023: Schweikert Voted For The Fiscal Responsibility Act Of 2023, Which Set Discretionary Spending Caps For FY 2024 And FY 2025. In May 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, which would, in part, "set discretionary spending caps for the next two years and include a range of provisions to limit federal spending, rescind unobligated funds and streamline environmental permitting processes. The bill would set base discretionary spending limits for defense and nondefense spending for fiscal years 2024 and 2025, capping defense spending for fiscal 2024 at $886.4 billion -- an increase of approximately 3 percent -- and nondefense spending at $703.7 billion -- a cut of more than 5 percent. Both caps would increase for fiscal 2025 by 1 percent. Through fiscal 2025, it would also include specific annual cap adjustments for specified programs; provide $44.8 for the veterans' toxic exposure fund established by the PACT Act (PL 117-168); and provide $22 billion for a Commerce Department IT modernization and facility improvement fund. If appropriations legislation for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 is not enacted by Jan. 1 of each year, the bill would set discretionary spending limits for funds provided under a continuing resolution at levels reduced 1 percent from the previous fiscal year. For the subsequent four years, the bill would set overall discretionary spending limits for the purpose of congressional budget enforcement, establishing a cap of $1.62 trillion in fiscal 2026, increasing 1 percent annually to $1.67 trillion in fiscal 2029." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 314 to 117, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. The Senate passed the bill, sent it to President Biden, and it was signed into law. [House Vote 243, 5/31/23; Congressional Quarterly, 5/31/23; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3746]
The Bipartisan Package Coupled The Debt Limit Relief With Discretionary Spending Caps. According to Congressional Quarterly, "On a bipartisan 314-117 vote, the House endorsed legislation negotiated by Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and President Joe Biden that would couple debt limit relief with caps on discretionary spending that Republicans said would serve as a down payment on deficit reduction efforts." [Congressional Quarterly, 5/31/23]
The Bill Rescinded About $27.7 Billion In Unobligated Funds, Primarily From COVID-19 Response, The Public Health And Social Services Emergency Fund, Agricultural Department Food Supply Chain Activities, Highway Infrastructure Programs, And CDC Virus Tracking And Vaccine Development Activities. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The bill would rescind approximately $27.7 billion in unobligated funds, primarily for coronavirus response, including $10.4 billion for the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund, $3.2 billion for Agriculture Department food supply chain and other activities, $2.2 billion for highway infrastructure programs, and $1.7 billion for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention virus tracking and vaccine development activities." [Congressional Quarterly, 5/31/23]
The Bill Rescinded $1.4 Billion From The IRS Provided By The Inflation Reduction Act For Tax Enforcement. According to Congressional Quarterly, "It would also rescind $1.4 billion for IRS enforcement provided by the fiscal 2022 reconciliation package (PL 117-169)." [Congressional Quarterly, 5/31/23]
The Bill Established An "Administrative Pay-As-You-Go" Requirement For Federal Agencies, Requiring Them To Submit An Estimate Of Budgetary Effects For Administrative Action Proposals. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The bill would establish an 'administrative pay-as-you-go' requirement for federal agencies, requiring agencies to submit to the Office of Management and Budget an estimate of the budgetary effects for any proposed administrative action and, if the action would increase direct spending by at least $1 billion over the next 10 years or $100 million in any one year, include a proposal for an action to reduce spending by at least an equal amount -- effective through 2024." [Congressional Quarterly, 5/31/23]
The Bill Held Domestic Spending Flat And Permitted Defense And Veterans Spending To Increase. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The new compromise, which would hold domestic spending relatively flat and allow defense and veterans spending to increase, would likely save at most $2.1 trillion, the Congressional Budget Office estimated." [Congressional Quarterly, 5/31/23]
According to the Congressional Budget Office, The Bill Would Likely Save Up To $2.1 Trillion. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The new compromise, which would hold domestic spending relatively flat and allow defense and veterans spending to increase, would likely save at most $2.1 trillion, the Congressional Budget Office estimated." [Congressional Quarterly, 5/31/23]
Far-Right Republicans Opposed The Package Because It Included A Fraction Of The Deficit Reduction Proposed By The GOP Debt Limit Package. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Hard-line conservatives opposed the bill because it contains just a fraction of the deficit reduction that would have been required under the earlier House GOP debt limit bill." [Congressional Quarterly, 5/31/23]
According to the Congressional Budget Office, Due To The Spending Caps And Rescissions Of Spending, The Bill Would Save An Estimated $1.5 Trillion Over 10 Years And Up To $2.1 Trillion If Congress Complies With Additional Caps From FY 2026-2029. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Through a combination of caps on discretionary spending, rescissions of mostly pandemic spending and other changes, the package would save an estimated $1.5 trillion over a decade, and up to $2.1 trillion if Congress abides by additional caps from fiscal 2026 to fiscal 2029 that are not enforceable by a sequester, according to the Congressional Budget Office." [Congressional Quarterly, 5/31/23]
In FY 2024, The Statutory Limits Would Increase Defense Spending To $886 Billion And Decrease Non-Defense Spending To $704 Billion, Except Emergency Spending, And Spending Would Only Grow By 1% In FY 2025. According to Congressional Quarterly, "In fiscal 2024, the statutory caps would raise defense spending to $886 billion and lower nondefense spending to $704 billion, not including emergency spending and other funding outside the caps. Spending would be allowed to grow by 1 percent in fiscal 2025." [Congressional Quarterly, 5/31/23]
In FY 2024, The Caps Would Effectively Cut Base Discretionary Spending To $1.59 Trillion From FY 2023's $1.602 Trillion. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The caps would technically cut overall base discretionary spending to $1.59 trillion in 2024, from $1.602 trillion this year." [Congressional Quarterly, 5/31/23]
The Package Would Automatically Cut Discretionary Spending By 1% If Congress Fails To Pass All 12 Budget Bills For FY 2024 By January 1, 2024. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Another key provision in the bill --- championed by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. --- would automatically cut discretionary spending by 1 percent if Congress does not pass all 12 appropriations bills for fiscal 2024 by Jan. 1, 2024. That was a key selling point for Massie, typically a staunch fiscal conservative, to support the debt limit measure, as well as other outspoken conservatives like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga." [Congressional Quarterly, 5/31/23]
The Package Would Trigger Automatic Cuts To Discretionary Spending If Congress Were To Fail To Appropriate Below The Caps In FY 2024 And FY 2025. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The bill would provide for automatic cuts to discretionary spending if Congress does not appropriate below the limits in fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2025." [Congressional Quarterly, 5/31/23]
The Package Would Provide Spending Caps From FY 2026 Through FY 2029 But Enforced Only Budget Rules, Which Could Be Waived By Majority Votes. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Spending caps continue from 2026 to 2029 but they are enforced only by budget rules, which lawmakers could waive by majority vote." [Congressional Quarterly, 5/31/23]
2023: Schweikert Voted For A GOP Debt Limit Package, Which Would Limit Federal Spending By Setting Base Discretionary Spending Limits Through FY 2033, Capping Spending For FY 2024 At FY 2022 Levels, And Increasing The Cap By 1% Annually. In April 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023, which would "also include a range of provisions to limit federal spending, as well as the text of a previously passed energy and permitting policy package. The bill would set base discretionary spending limits through fiscal 2033, capping spending for fiscal 2024 at the fiscal 2022 level of $1.47 trillion --- a reduction from current spending levels --- and raising the cap by 1 percent annually through fiscal 2033. It would also include similar annual cap adjustments for specified programs, including for wildfire suppression, disability reviews and redeterminations, health care fraud and abuse control, and disaster reemployment services and eligibility assessments." The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 217 to 215, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. [House Vote 199, 4/26/23; Congressional Quarterly, 4/26/23; Congressional Actions, H.R. 2811]
The Bill Would Rescind Unobligated Funds Provided By The Inflation Reduction Act For COVID-19 Relief, IRS Enforcement And Climate And Infrastructure Initiatives And Would Rescind Unobligated Funding From The American Rescue Plan And Other Coronavirus Response Laws. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The bill would rescind unobligated amounts from various funds provided by the fiscal 2022 reconciliation package (PL 117-169) for COVID-19 relief, IRS enforcement, and certain climate- and infrastructure-focused initiatives, as well as all unobligated funding from the March 2021 coronavirus relief reconciliation package (PL 117-2) and earlier coronavirus response laws." [Congressional Quarterly, 4/26/23]
The Bill Sought To Cut $131 Billion From Discretionary Spending In FY 2024. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The GOP debt limit bill laid the groundwork for a fierce partisan clash over appropriations levels for the coming fiscal year. House Appropriations Chair Kay Granger, R-Texas, said the debt limit bill, which called for cutting $131 billion from discretionary spending in fiscal 2024, will be the 'framework' she uses to begin marking up appropriations bills. But the panel's ranking Democrat, Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, promised a fight." [Congressional Quarterly, 4/27/23]
Veterans Advocacy Groups Were Concerned That The Bill Did Not Provide Protections For Veterans Spending. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Meanwhile, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and 23 other groups that advocate for veterans sent a letter to lawmakers Tuesday expressing 'grave concerns' about the Republicans' debt limit bill, urging Congress not to pass the legislation unless it carves out protections for veterans spending." [Congressional Quarterly, 4/27/23]
The Bill Would Cap Discretionary Spending At The FY 2022 Level Of $1.47 Trillion For A Decade And Allow For 1% Annual Growth. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The bill caps discretionary spending at the fiscal 2022 level of $1.47 trillion for a decade, allowing for 1 percent annual growth." [Congressional Quarterly, 4/27/23]
Although The Bill Rescinded Unspent Funds From The Inflation Reduction Act, The Restoration Of Biofuel Tax Incentives Were Estimated To Cost Almost $39 Billion, So The Bill's Total Savings Would Be Around $4.8 Trillion Over 11 Years. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Rescissions of unspent funds appropriated in last year's climate reconciliation package (PL 117-169) would trim nearly $10 billion in spending, while restoring several biofuels tax incentives would cost almost $39 billion. The measure's total savings still round up to $4.8 trillion over 11 years as originally projected." [Congressional Quarterly, 4/27/23]
The Congressional Budget Office Estimated That The GOP Debt Limit Package Would Generate About $29 Billion Less In Net Deficit Reduction. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday the GOP debt limit measure would generate about $29 billion less in net deficit reduction than previously estimated after a series of late changes tucked into the bill to win over holdouts." [Congressional Quarterly, 4/27/23]