Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB362

Introduced
1/13/23  

Caption

Budgetary Accuracy in Scoring Interest Costs Act of 2023 or the BASIC Act This bill requires cost estimates prepared by the Congressional Budget Office or the Joint Committee on Taxation to include the costs of servicing the public debt.

Impact

The introduction of HB 362 is anticipated to have a meaningful impact on how fiscal responsibilities are assessed and reported. By mandating inclusion of debt servicing costs in budgetary figures, the bill could lead to more precise financial projections and fiscal accountability. It signifies a move towards recognizing the long-term financial implications of the public debt and its servicing costs, which are often overlooked in traditional budgeting practices. Should it pass, it could result in more cautious financial planning and possibly influence the decisions made by legislators regarding future spending and debt accumulation.

Summary

House Bill 362, known as the Budgetary Accuracy in Scoring Interest Costs Act of 2023 or BASIC Act, aims to amend the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 by requiring that cost estimates prepared by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) include costs related to servicing the public debt. The intention behind this legislation is to ensure greater accuracy in financial reporting and budgeting by accounting for the important ongoing costs associated with national debt, which have significant implications for fiscal policy and government budgeting practices. This bill emphasizes the necessity of incorporating comprehensive cost assessments in budgetary estimates, facilitating a more informed decision-making process within Congress regarding fiscal matters.

Contention

While the bill has garnered support from those advocating for financial transparency and responsible budgeting, there may be debates surrounding the practical implementation and the effects on budgetary estimates. Critics may argue that incorporating these debt servicing costs could complicate budget processes or lead to varying interpretations of fiscal health. Nonetheless, the proposal highlights a growing recognition of the need for holistic fiscal oversight as public debt continues to rise.

Companion Bills

US HB8341

Related bill Cost Estimates Improvement Act

Previously Filed As

US HB311

Cost Estimates Improvement Act This bill requires cost estimates prepared by the Congressional Budget Office or the Joint Committee on Taxation to include (1) the cost of servicing the public debt; and (2) a list of any federal agencies, programs, and initiatives with fragmented, overlapping, or duplicative goals or activities covered by the legislation.

US HB9777

To amend the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to require any cost estimate for a bill or joint resolution prepared by the Congressional Budget Office to include the cost to each United States citizen for carrying out such measure, and for other purposes.

US SB5159

A bill to amend the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to require any cost estimate for a bill or joint resolution prepared by the Congressional Budget Office to include the cost to each United States citizen for carrying out such measure, and for other purposes.

US HB361

Stop Inflationary Spending Act This bill requires the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to provide inflation projections for bills that Congress considers using the budget reconciliation process. Specifically, the CBO must estimate the impact on inflation that will occur from implementing each reconciliation bill, including the impact on inflation that will occur during each of the first five years after the enactment of the bill.

US HB8341

Cost Estimates Improvement Act

US HB991

Cost Estimates Improvement Act

US HB261

Article I Regulatory Budget Act This bill requires the establishment of a federal regulatory budget to limit the costs of federal regulations. It also establishes requirements for disclosing the projected costs of federal regulations and procedures for enforcing the regulatory budget.

US HB260

Nickel Plan Act This bill modifies the federal budget process to establish and enforce new spending caps. The bill establishes an outlay cap (less net interest payments) for FY2024 of $5.953 trillion, less 5%. For each year from FY2025-FY2027, the outlay cap is 5% less than the previous year's outlay cap. For FY2028 and subsequent years, total outlays (including net interest payments) may not exceed 17.5% of the gross domestic product (GDP) for that year as estimated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Beginning in FY2029, total projected outlays for any year may not be less than the total projected outlays for the preceding year. The OMB must enforce the spending caps using a sequester to eliminate any excess spending through automatic cuts. The bill eliminates the existing exemptions from sequestration. If the OMB projects a sequester, the congressional budget committees may report a resolution directing congressional committees to change existing law to achieve the spending reductions necessary to meet the outlay limits. The bill also establishes procedures for Congress to enforce the outlay caps established by this bill.

US HB438

True Cost Act This bill requires the President's annual budget submission to Congress to include estimates of the cost per individual taxpayer for (1) the public debt, and (2) any projected budget deficit for a fiscal year.

US HB347

Reduce Exacerbated Inflation Negatively Impacting the Nation Act This bill requires the Office of Management and Budget and the Council of Economic Advisers to provide an inflation estimate for each executive order that is projected to cause an annual gross budgetary effect of at least $1 billion. The estimate must determine whether the executive order will have no significant impact on inflation, a quantifiable inflationary impact on the Consumer Price Index, or a significant impact on inflation that cannot be quantified at the time the estimate is prepared. The requirement does not apply to executive orders that (1) provide for emergency assistance or relief at the request of any state or local government or an official of the government, or (2) are necessary for national security or the ratification or implementation of international treaty obligations.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.