IMPACT OF THE ELECTIONS ON THE CONGRESS: THE FISCAL CLIFF AND EVER AFTER DECEMBER 13, 2012 1 CUR...

IMPACT OF THE ELECTIONS ON THE CONGRESS:

THE FISCAL CLIFF AND EVER AFTER

DECEMBER 13, 2012

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CUR Presentation - December 13, 2012

Welcome

Della Cronin, Vice PresidentAudrey Busch, Senior Legislative AssociateKris Andrews, Chair, CUR Advocacy

Committee

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Agenda

Review Annual Budget Process 6-month Continuing Resolution Sequestration and its Impact on Federal Spending Implications of Elections Action in Lame Duck Session Questions and Answers

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Annual Budget Process


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Budget Process

Annual timeline State of the Union Presidential budget request release Congressional budget resolution Annual appropriations process Floor debate Presidential approval


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Current State of the Federal Budget

With the exception of the Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Bill, all 11 Appropriations bills were reviewed by the House and Senate

But, the 2013 fiscal year did not go as Congress hoped

Agreement for a 6 month Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep government running. Expires March 27, 2013 – included a 0.612 percent increase


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Where does Sequestration fit into the budget and what is it?


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Budget Control Act

What is it? Passed in August of 2011 and allowed for debt limit

increase Discretionary spending capped each year for the

next decade Spending cap in FY2013 = $1.047 trillion in

discretionary spending FY2013—$536 billion security/$501 billion non security Super Committee failure to cut additional $1.2 trillion

from budget over 10 years triggers sequestration – January 2013


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Sequestration

Sequestration triggers automatic cuts for each of the nine years FY13-21

For FY2013 – fixed percentage of across-the-board cuts projected at 8.2 percent for discretionary programs and 7.6 percent for mandatory

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The Breakdown of the 2012 Presidential and Congressional

Election Results

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White House

President Obama Claims Another Term

Electoral College Votes: Obama’s 332 vs. Romney’s 206

Popular Vote: 60,790,754 vs. 57,896,757

Swing States: Obama claimed Ohio, Virginia, Florida, Colorado

Obama won among youth, Latinos, women and other minorities. GOP numerically unable to win now, and in future, with just the white male vote.

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Senate

Breakdown of Senate: Democrats – 53 Republicans – 45 Independents – 2 (Will caucus with Ds)

Overall there were 33 Senate seats up for reelection and 18 of these seats were actually in play during the 2012 campaign cycle.

Big wins for Democrats included Massachusetts and Indiana; kept seats in Montana, Florida and Missouri.

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Senate

Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) retiring, leaving a vacancy on the HELP Committee, and Mike Enzi (R-WY), while remaining on the Committee, will give up his Ranking position, most likely to Lamar Alexander (R-TN).

Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) retiring and opens the slot of Ranking Member on the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee

Elizabeth Warren, new senator from Massachusetts, was formerly a professor at Harvard and believes in federal funding for research at colleges and universities

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Senate

The Democrats will maintain Senate majority in the 113th Congress, with Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) at the helm and 12 new Members joining.

The Democrats did not gain enough seats to defeat a filibuster

The Senate will welcome 20 women in the 113th Congress – a record number.

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House of Representatives

Breakdown of House Republicans – 234 Democrats 201 1 seat in LA going to run-off but it will be held by a

Republican regardless of the outcomeRepublicans retain the majority and Speaker

of the House John Boehner (R-OH) and Majority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) will retain their leadership positions. Cathy McMorris Rodgers elected Vice Chair of the Republican Conference.

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House of Representatives

House Election Results of Note: Education champions not returning to the House

include Representatives Judy Biggert (R-IL), Dale Kildee (D-MI), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Jason Altmire (D-PA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Todd Platts (R-PA).

Newly re-elected research supporter is Bill Foster from Illinois who is a physicist.

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How Do the Elections Impact the Lame Duck Session?


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Agenda for the Lame Duck Session

Focus on the “fiscal cliff” The fiscal cliff is the culmination of a variety of budgetary

issues that include: Expiration of the Bush tax cuts Expiration of the Sustainable Growth Rate “Doc Fix” Expiration of extended Unemployment Insurance benefits Expiration of the Alternative Minimum Tax ‘Patch’ Expiration of the current estate and gift tax rates Deadline for addressing tax extenders

And don’t forget sequestration in January along with hitting the debt limit in the beginning of 2013!

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Calendar of Events Impacting Fiscal Cliff

November

December

January

October

February

March

Election Day

Expiring Tax Policies

U.S. likely to exceed debt

ceiling*

Sequestration takes effect

Lame Duck Sessions (11/13-

12/31)

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Fiscal Cliff Negotiations

Bipartisan negotiations have begun which will include twists, turns and challenges

Optimism for a bipartisan deal

The “Jumpers”

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Action Other than Averting the Fiscal Cliff

Effort to pass minibus FY '13 appropriations bill Appropriations staff have been working to resolve

differences so an appropriations bill can be passed before end of year.

A conference is expected for most of the appropriations bills.

LHHS bill very difficult to negotiate and may not be included in minibus – could end up being year-long CR.

Other legislation Farm Bill Cybersecurity STEM Jobs Act – Passed by the House, Senate will not

consider

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Action on the Fiscal Cliff in Washington

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Discretionary Spending Groups Align Forces

Non-Defense Discretionary Spending Coalition Spans a broad array of issue areas that includes

health, education, and research spending.

Position: Discretionary spending received fair share of cuts already during the deficit reduction efforts – target what the underlying issue instead, entitlements.

CUR participates and drafted communications to Congress accordingly.

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State of Play - Fiscal Cliff

President Obama and Speaker of the House John Boehner have begun negotiations.

It is clear a deal will likely be reached by Dec. 21

Mixture of revenue raisers, entitlement cuts, and spending cuts the likely combination

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What YOU Can Do

Talk with the governmental relations staff at your campus about risks to federal funding for research

Send a letter to your elected officials, letting them know how the fiscal cliff and on-going defunding of federal agencies that provide grants and contracts will impact your research and that of your students

Write an Op Ed piece for your local newspaper (s) on how the fiscal cliff and cuts to NDD negatively impact the campus, faculty, and students

Working with your campus government relations staff: Invite legislators and their staff to research celebrations on your

campus – this is particularly effective for campuses that are close by elected officials home offices (or residences)

Visit elected officials’ district offices – particularly with a student researcher


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CUR's Strategy in Washington

Continue to partner with the NDD, AAAS, and be responsive to White House OSTP requests for information on excellent undergraduate research examples that were funded with federal sources

Provide you with a template for a letter to send to your senators and representatives on the “fiscal cliff”

Provide you with customized talking points on the “fiscal cliff” and its potential impacts to undergraduate research and faculty research

Your ideas?


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Questions?


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IMPACT OF THE ELECTIONS ON THE CONGRESS: THE FISCAL CLIFF AND EVER AFTER DECEMBER 13, 2012 1 CUR...

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