Budget Process Committee

[Purple State]

As the current Game Moderator I hereby open the Budget Process Committee into session.

*Bangs gavel*

The Committee is to be comprised of four additional members, two appointed and approved by the Senate and two appointed by the President. Upon approval to the Committee, please sign in here so that we may begin consideration of a budget process for Atlasia.

[Badger]

As the current Game Moderator I hereby open the Budget Process Committee into session.

*Bangs gavel*

The Committee is to be comprised of four additional members, two appointed and approved by the Senate and two appointed by the President. Upon approval to the Committee, please sign in here so that we may begin consideration of a budget process for Atlasia.

The Senate will begin the appointment process for its representatives forthwith, Mr. Chairman.

<PM's the PPT>

EDIT: Until further notice the list of previously passed spending bills considered by the Committee to modify the template budget will be listed here:

Credit Union Startup Fund Act (withdrawn from Consideration by Yank)

The Financial Regulatory Fund Act (withdrawn from consideration by Yank)

https://uselectionatlas.org/AFEWIKI/index.php/2009_Atlasian_Relief_and_Recovery_Act
(Accepted for consideration by the full committee; currently under review)

https://uselectionatlas.org/AFEWIKI/index.php/Atlasian_National_Healthcare_Act
 (in que, as are rest of bills in order listed below)

Break the Chains Act

Social & Economic Development Zone Improvement Act

The Reasonable Military Funding Act

Student Loan Reformation Act

Home Energy Assistance Administration Act

Public Housing Act

Internet Infrastructure and Access Expansion Act

Prison Reform Act

Green Power Act

Hiring Incentives Act

[afleitch]

Thank you Chairman. Given that it would be fruitful for this committee to get some good ideas down on paper I hope that the Senate selects it's representatives from those who have the stomach for detail. Likewise I hope to nominate two similar memebers; this will not be immediate as 'vounteerism' is not everyones strong point so I'll put out feelers.

[tmthforu94]

Ah, this should be exciting!

[Purple State]

While we wait for the other members of the committee to be selected and sign in, I will open an "introductory investigation" phase.

I would like to invite anyone with prior experience with the Atlasian budget to provide testimony, at their discretion, to explain how the old system worked and what was useful and what was harmful in that system. This is largely directed on the veterans of the game, as I think we would all find it useful to have some background before the committee begins its work.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

X NC Yankee

[Badger]

• Badger.

Ready for service, Mr. Chair. Has the President made his choices yet?

EDIT: The status of the budget will be updated here:

Spending ($2673.05 billion)

Military Spending ($446.11 billion)
$106.57 billion ... Military personnel (No Change)
$153.62 billion ... Operation and maintenance (No Change)
$80.84 billion .... Procurement (No Change)
$68.13 billion .... Research, development, test and evaluation (No Change)
$16.15 billion .... Military Construction, Family Housing and Other (No Change)
$17.99 billion .... Atomic Energy Defense Activities (No Change)
$2.81 billion ..... Defense Related activities (No Change)

Iraq and Afghanistan Operations ($111.85 billion)
$105 billion ..... Military Operations (No Change)
$6.85 billion .... Reconstruction aid (No Change)

Military Retirement ($115.48 billion)
$40.83 billion .... Military retirement (No Change)
$36.34 billion .... Income security for veterans (No Change)
$3.24 billion ...... Veterans education, training, and rehabilitation (No Change)
$34.35 billion ..... Hospital and medical care for veterans and retired military (No Change)
$0.72 billion ...... Housing and other veterans benefits and services (No Change)

International affairs ($31.59 billion)
$13 billion ........ International development and humanitarian assistance (No Change)
$9.47 billion ...... International military aid (No Change)
$7.97 billion ...... Conduct of foreign affairs (No Change)
$1.15 billion ...... Foreign information and exchange activities (No Change)

General science, space, and technology ($23.97 billion)
$5.62 billion ...... National Science Foundation programs (No Change)
$3.44 billion ...... Department of Energy general science programs (No Change)
$14.91 billion ..... Space flight, research, and supporting activities (No Change)

Non-Defense Energy Spending ($2.12 billion)
$0.73 billion ...... Energy supply (No Change)
$1.03 billion ...... Energy conservation and preparedness (No Change)
$0.36 billion ...... Energy information, preparedness, & regulation (No Change)

Natural resources and environment ($31.16 billion)
$5.45 billion ..... Water resources (No Change)
$9.07 billion ..... Conservation and land management (No Change)
$3.12 billion ..... Recreational & Park resources (No Change)
$8.42 billion ..... Pollution control and abatement (No Change)
$5.1 billion ....... Other natural resources (No Change)

Agriculture ($26.02 billion)
$21.73 billion ..... Farm income stabilization & crop insurance (No Change)
$4.29 billion ...... Agricultural research and services (No Change)

Commerce and Housing Loan Programs ($6.82 billion)
$-4.28 billion ..... Federal Housing Loan Programs (No Change)
$2.17 billion ...... Postal service (No Change)
$-0.96 billion ..... Deposit insurance (No Change)
$7.96 billion ...... Universal service fund (No Change)
$1.93 billion ...... Other advancement of commerce (No Change)

Transportation ($70.68 billion)
$36.51 billion ..... Highways and highway safety (No Change)
$8.51 billion ...... Mass transit (No Change)
$0.61 billion ...... Railroads (No Change)
$17.26 billion ..... Air Transportion (No Change)
$7.37 billion ...... Water transportation (No Change)
$0.42 billion ...... Other transportation (No Change)

Community and regional development ($19.1 billion)
$6.25 billion ...... Community development (No Change)
$2.86 billion ...... Area and regional development (No Change)
$9.99 billion ...... Disaster relief and insurance (No Change)

Education ($64.07 billion)
$38.57 billion ..... Elementary, Secondary & Vocational education (No Change)
$22.27 billion ..... Higher education (No Change)
$3.23 billion ...... Research and general education (No Change)

Training, labor and unemployment ($47.81 billion)
$6.88 billion ...... Training and employment (No Change)
$1.6 billion ....... Labor law, statistics, and other administration (No Change)
$39.33 billion ..... Unemployment compensation (No Change)

Non-Medicare Health Spending ($253.32 billion)
$192.72 billion .... Medicaid grants (No Change)
$6.23 billion ...... State Children's Health Insurance (No Change)
$3.17 billion ...... Indian health (No Change)
$3.24 billion ...... Substance abuse and mental health services (No Change)
$4.7 billion ....... Disease control, public health and bioterrorism (No Change)
$29.36 billion ..... Health research and training (No Change)
$3.01 billion ...... Food safety and occupational health and safety (No Change)
$10.89 billion ..... Other health care services (No Change)

Medicare ($345.76 billion)
$182.76 billion .... Hospital insurance (HI) (No Change)
$115.14 billion .... Supplementary medical insurance (SMI) (No Change)
$46.7 billion ...... Prescription drug benefit (No Change)
$1.16 billion ...... Health care fraud (No Change)

Civilian Retirement (Social Security excluded) ($72.02 billion)
$4.89 billion ...... Civilian retirement and disability insurance (No Change)
$58.22 billion ..... Federal employee retirement and disability (No Change)
$8.91 billion ...... Federal employees' and retired employees' health benefits (No Change)

Aid to Low-Income Families ($206.78 billion)
$38.45 billion ..... Housing assistance (No Change)
$37.58 billion ..... Food stamps (No Change)
$19.3 billion ...... Other nutrition programs (WIC, school lunches) (No Change)
$38.66 billion ..... Supplemental security income (SSI) (No Change)
$18.21 billion ..... Family support payments (TANF) (No Change)
$34.05 billion ..... Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) (No Change)
$13.15 billion ..... Child tax credit (No Change)
$4.8 billion ....... Child care funds (No Change)
$2.58 billion ...... Other aid to low-income families (No Change)

General Family Support ($25.62 billion)
$6.56 billion ...... Foster care and adoption assistance (No Change)
$2.92 billion ...... Child support and family support programs (No Change)
$16.14 billion ..... Social and family services (No Change)

Social security ($544.82 billion)
$454.4 billion ..... Old-age and survivors insurance(OASI) (No Change)
$90.42 billion ..... Disability insurance (DI) (No Change)

Administration of justice ($43.1 billion)
$11.35 billion ..... Federal law enforcement (No Change)
$10.46 billion ..... Border security and immigration (No Change)
$10.91 billion ..... Federal litigation and judicial activities (No Change)
$6.16 billion ...... Federal prison system (No Change)
$4.22 billion ...... Criminal justice assistance (No Change)

General government administration ($17.76 billion)
$3.67 billion ...... Legislative functions (No Change)
$1.14 billion ...... Executive office programs (No Change)
$9.8 billion ....... IRS & other fiscal operations (No Change)
$3.15 billion ...... Other general government (No Change)

Net_interest_long ($211.08 billion)
$211.08 billion .... Net Interest (No Change)

Undistributed offsetting receipts and allowance ($-43.99 billion)
$-43.99 billion .... Undistributed offsetting receipts and allowance (No Change)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tax Expenditures and Tax Cuts ($1075.13 billion)


2001 and 2003 Tax Cuts ($294.9 billion)
$116.96 billion .... Benefits for Richest 1% of Taxpayers (No Change)
$28.87 billion ..... Benefits for Next Richest 4% (No Change)
$58.92 billion ..... Benefits for Next Richest 15% (No Change)
$43.6 billion ...... Benefits for Next 20% of Taxpayers (No Change)
$46.55 billion ..... Benefits for Bottom 60% of Taxpayers (No Change)

Corporate Tax Breaks ($60.36 billion)
$15.74 billion ..... Untaxed Foreign Profits (No Change)
$9.87 billion ...... R&D Tax Breaks (No Change)
$4.05 billion ...... Energy, Mining and Timber Tax Breaks (No Change)
$9.93 billion ...... Tax Free Bonds (No Change)
$20.77 billion ..... Other Corporate Tax Breaks (No Change)
Personal Business & Investment Benefits ($86.71 billion)
$30.38 billion ..... Lower tax rates on capital gains (excluding housing) (No Change)
$28.76 billion ..... Step-up basis of capital gains at death (No Change)
$23.01 billion ..... Tax-Free Bonds (No Change)
$1.36 billion ...... Enterprise & Empowerment Zones and New Markets credit (No Change)
$3.2 billion ....... Other personal investment tax breaks (No Change)

Pension & Retirement Deductions ($168.47 billion)
$51.05 billion ..... Employer-paid Pensions (No Change)
$58.12 billion ..... 401Ks & Keogh plans (No Change)
$7.31 billion ...... IRAs (No Change)
$29.48 billion ..... Group and personal life insurance benefits (No Change)
$19.77 billion ..... Untaxed Social Security benefits (No Change)
$2.74 billion ...... Other retirement benefits (No Change)

Health Insurance Tax Benefits ($140.99 billion)
$125.69 billion .... Employer-paid Health Insurance (No Change)
$4.33 billion ...... Self-employed medical insurance premiums (No Change)
$1.83 billion ...... Medical Savings/Health Savings Accounts (No Change)
$9.14 billion ...... Deductibility of medical expenses (No Change)

Housing tax benefits ($163.71 billion)
$76.03 billion ..... Mortgage Interest (No Change)
$14.83 billion ..... Deductibility of property taxes on homes (No Change)
$36.27 billion ..... Capital gains exclusion on home sales (No Change)
$29.72 billion ..... Exclusion of net imputed rental income on owner-occupied homes (No Change)
$2.11 billion ...... Housing bonds & low-income housing investments (No Change)
$4.75 billion ...... Exception from passive loss rules for $25,000 of rental loss (No Change)

Other individual deductions and exemptions ($159.99 billion)
$37.89 billion ..... Charitable contributions (No Change)
$34.62 billion ..... State and local taxes (w/o home property) (No Change)
$6.55 billion ...... Soldiers and veterans tax benefits (No Change)
$5.94 billion ...... Workmen's compensation (No Change)
$14.01 billion ..... Education deductions and credits (No Change)
$32.81 billion ..... Child credit (No Change)
$2.81 billion ...... Child care credits and deductions (No Change)
$2 billion ......... Deduction for the blind and elderly (No Change)
$7.86 billion ...... Social Security benefits for disabled and survivors (No Change)
$3.76 billion ...... Untaxed foreign personal income (No Change)
$3.28 billion ...... Employee parking and transit expenses (No Change)
$1.25 billion ...... Adoption and foster care tax credits (No Change)
$5.42 billion ...... Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)- revenue loss component (No Change)
$1.79 billion ...... Other fringe benefits (No Change)

-----------------

New budget is $3748.18 billion
($2673.05 billion in spending, $1075.13 billion in tax expenditures and cuts).

Deficit is $401.04 billion.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Oh I must say I am extremely proud of the work so far ahieved in this committee and would say it bodes extremely well for the future of the budget in Atlasia.

[Purple State]

Oh I must say I am extremely proud of the work so far ahieved in this committee and would say it bodes extremely well for the future of the budget in Atlasia.

It strikes me as likely that the President withheld a decision on his appointees as a means of allowing the next President to shape the committee as he sees fit.

Seeing as it appears likely that this committee will have a new chair soon, it ma be prudent to postpone the committee's work until the new government is in place.

I would like to hear the thoughts of you and badger before doing so.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

yea, a transition is hard what this needs so I would suggest delaying the work schedule just a little bit.

[Badger]

yea, a transition is hard what this needs so I would suggest delaying the work schedule just a little bit.

And now we'll soon have to wait for PS to appoint, and the Senate confirm, his successor. Erg!

Ah well. As Yank said, transition is hard.

[Purple State]

yea, a transition is hard what this needs so I would suggest delaying the work schedule just a little bit.

And now we'll soon have to wait for PS to appoint, and the Senate confirm, his successor. Erg!

Ah well. As Yank said, transition is hard.

Now you know why I wanted the option to extend the committee's life.

[Marokai Backbeat]

With Badger and Yankee, as well as myself and Inks appointed to this Committee, and Al confirmed as GM, should this be going anywhere now?

[Bacon King]

Indeed; get on this, people!

[Purple State]

I believe Al said he would have spotty internet for a week. Hopefully this will start soon, and god speed.

[Badger]

I should hit the light at the end of this tunnel of being swamped at work and home this weekend.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I am afraid, every other day has become the new normal for me at best. I shall see how it goes but if I can't keep up then we shall need another Senator to take my place.

[Badger]

I should hit the light at the end of this tunnel of being swamped at work and home after this weekend.

Edited for accuracy.

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

Just signing in - sorry I didn't do that earlier. 

[Badger]

Ready to start when you are, Chairman Al.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Shall we start with defunding mine safety? (Attention Getter)

[Badger]

Or a 100 foot golden statue of Thatcher?

[Badger]

Bump!

[Bacon King]

MY DRAFT OF ATLSIAN BUDGIT

1. $199 MILLION FOR A BIG STATUE OF MARGARET THATCHER
3. $30 BILLION TO ABOLISH WEST VIRGINIA
4. $1 MILLION TO BAN BEARDS
4. $35 MILLION TO DEFUND WHALES
5. THE REST IS DONATED TO THE BRITISH CONSAEVATAIFV PARTY
ALSO NO MINE SAFETY

I HOPE U LIKE IT

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Um... so, yeah. I open this meeting of the Budget Process Committee.