Testimony on H.R. 3929 and Other Budgetary Matters
T-AFMD-90-20: Published: Apr 19, 1990. Publicly Released: Apr 19, 1990.
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GAO discussed proposed legislation that would repeal the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 and substitute a new deficit reduction approach that would require annual recalculation of new deficit targets under a pay-as-you-go formula. GAO noted that the: (1) current budget structure does not accurately present investments, costs, and surpluses for effective resolution of budget deficits; and (2) 1985 legislation's formula budgeting approach weakens the legislative process and long-term public confidence in government budgeting. GAO also noted that the proposed legislation: (1) did not include a sequestration procedure to enforce required cutbacks; (2) included provisions designed to make it more difficult to increase spending or decrease revenues from the budget-resolution approved levels; (3) had such advantageous features as reduced incentives for adopting measures producing short-term cash benefits but higher long-term costs, clarification of some budget scorekeeping uncertainties, improved budgeting for federal credit and deposit insurance programs, and decreased misuse of the government-sponsored enterprise concept for moving federal activities off-budget; and (4) presented some weaknesses in terms of the continued use of a formula feature and lack of an easily understood deficit reduction plan. GAO believes that the development of a more comprehensive bill that includes many of the proposed legislation's budget-discipline enhancing provisions, in the context of a multi-year, bipartisan budget summit agreement, could better implement budget resolution targets.
Jun 28, 2018
U.S. Postal Service:
Projected Capital Spending and Processes for Addressing Uncertainties and RisksGAO-18-515: Published: Jun 28, 2018. Publicly Released: Jun 28, 2018.
Jun 21, 2018
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The Nation's Fiscal Health:
Action Is Needed to Address the Federal Government's Fiscal FutureGAO-18-299SP: Published: Jun 21, 2018. Publicly Released: Jun 21, 2018.
Apr 3, 2018
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Defense Budget:
Actions Needed to Improve the Management of Foreign Currency FundsGAO-18-221: Published: Apr 3, 2018. Publicly Released: Apr 3, 2018.
Feb 6, 2018
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Budget Issues:
Continuing Resolutions and Other Budget Uncertainties Present Management ChallengesGAO-18-368T: Published: Feb 6, 2018. Publicly Released: Feb 6, 2018.
Oct 12, 2017
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Public Relations Spending:
Selected Agencies' Activities Supported by Contracts and Public Affairs StaffGAO-17-711: Published: Sep 12, 2017. Publicly Released: Oct 12, 2017.
Oct 2, 2017
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U.S. Territories:
Public Debt OutlookGAO-18-160: Published: Oct 2, 2017. Publicly Released: Oct 2, 2017.
Sep 20, 2017
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Budget Issues:
Budget Uncertainty and Disruptions Affect Timing of Agency SpendingGAO-17-807T: Published: Sep 20, 2017. Publicly Released: Sep 20, 2017.
May 3, 2017
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The Nation's Fiscal Health:
Action is Needed to Address the Federal Government's Fiscal FutureGAO-17-579T: Published: May 3, 2017. Publicly Released: May 3, 2017.
Jan 18, 2017
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Overseas Contingency Operations:
OMB and DOD Should Revise the Criteria for Determining Eligible Costs and Identify the Costs Likely to Endure Long TermGAO-17-68: Published: Jan 18, 2017. Publicly Released: Jan 18, 2017.
Jan 17, 2017
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The Nation's Fiscal Health:
Action is Needed to Address the Federal Government's Fiscal FutureGAO-17-237SP: Published: Jan 17, 2017. Publicly Released: Jan 17, 2017.
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