Budget Reform | Charts

FY2014 Budget Proposals In Perspective

Veronique de Rugy | Apr 11, 2013
With the recent release of President Obama’s FY 2014 budget, it is important to put the budget numbers from the various proposals into proper perspective. These charts compare the patterns of future spending projections from the Senate Democratic budget by Chairman Patty Murray, House Republican budget by Chairman Paul Ryan, Senator Rand Paul’s budget, and the president’s budget.

A Closer Look at Senate and House Budget Proposals

Veronique de Rugy | Mar 25, 2013
The Senate Democratic and House Republican budget proposals are scheduled for consideration; the former drafted by Senate Budget Committee Chair Patty Murray, and the latter by House Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan. The following charts compare and contrast key aspects of the Ryan and Murray plans. The charts use data from the Senate Democratic and House Republican FY 2014 budgets and the Congressional Budget Office’s most recent Budget and Economic Outlook.

Projected Deficits in CBO’s 2013 Budget and Economic Outlook

Veronique de Rugy | Feb 11, 2013
On February 5, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its Budget and Economic Outlook for fiscal years 2013 to 2023. While the report might suggest the US economy and federal budget are on the road to recovery, such an assessment would be shortsighted.

U.S. Net Position Continues to Worsen, Following 12-Year Trend

Veronique de Rugy | Nov 12, 2012
Using the data from the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Financial Report of the U.S. Government for fiscal 2011 and previous years, the chart below compares the year-over-year change in the United States’ end-of-year net position.

Do Defense Cuts Have an Impact on Economic Growth?

Veronique de Rugy | Oct 16, 2012
In recent weeks, politicians and pundits have often implied that reductions in defense spending would shrink the gross domestic product (GDP) and further weaken the already-weak economic recovery. Based on this week’s chart series, their concerns don’t appear to pan out. In fact, over the past 30 years, real economic growth has grown and shrunk irrespective of defense-spending levels.

Defense Spending Will Continue To Grow In Spite of Automatic Cuts Set By BCA

Veronique de Rugy | Aug 21, 2012
As the chart shows, defense spending has almost doubled in the past year in current dollar terms and will continue to grow in spite of automatic cuts set by the BCA. Clarifying these figures reveals that sequester cuts do not warrant the fears of policymakers who warn about “savage cuts” to the defense budget.

Projected Spending from House Republican and White House Budget Plans

Veronique de Rugy | Mar 26, 2012
Modest adjustments that reduce spending on entitlements do not touch the core of the issue. Real fiscal reform requires deep cuts across the board to all programs and activities that are better managed by state and local entities and by the private sector.

Comparison of BLS Alternative National Unemployment Rates

Veronique de Rugy, Jason J. Fichtner | Feb 14, 2012
This chart provides a comparison of the official unemployment rate reported by the media with alternative measures of the unemployment rate reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

FY2013 Budget: Charts on Deficits, Debt, and Spending

Veronique de Rugy | Feb 13, 2012
In these charts, Veronique de Rugy examines the impact that the president's FY2013 budget would have on government spending.

Federal Spending Projections Increase Over 2 Years

Veronique de Rugy | Jan 31, 2012
This chart compares federal spending projections using the Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) Long-Term Budget Outlook from 2011 and 2009.