State and Local Governments
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CBO periodically publishes a reference volume, often referred to as “Budget Options,” that includes dozens of policy options to reduce federal budget deficits. Those options are derived from a broad spectrum of sources and represent a range of ways to reduce spending or increase revenues. The options are illustrative, and CBO’s reports do not make recommendations. CBO also prepares analytic reports that examine specific federal programs, aspects of the tax code, and budgetary and economic challenges. Most of these reports present a set of options for changes in the programs or tax rules being examined. A list of some recent reports with options related to this topic is below. Visit CBO’s Reports with Policy Options page for a list of all recent reports with policy options.
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Report
Child Nutrition Programs: Spending and Policy Options
September 25, 2015Since 1990, real spending for child nutrition programs more than doubled—to $20 billion in 2014. CBO expects that increases in food prices and demographic changes will cause spending to rise further in the future.
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Report
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families: Spending and Policy Options
January 21, 2015This report examines spending on TANF, how TANF compares to other low-income support programs, and the effects of TANF on employment. CBO also analyzes policy options that would change the program’s funding and requirements for states.
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Report
The Renewable Fuel Standard: Issues for 2014 and Beyond
June 26, 2014Using the rising amounts of renewable transportation fuels required by the Renewable Fuel Standard will be difficult. CBO looks at how those requirements and alternatives would affect fuel and food prices and greenhouse gas emissions.
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Report
The Highway Trust Fund and the Treatment of Surface Transportation Programs in the Federal Budget
June 11, 2014How can lawmakers address the imbalance between revenues and spending in the Highway Trust Fund? How does the unique budgetary classification of surface transportation programs limit the effectiveness of standard spending controls?
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Testimony on the Status of the Highway Trust Fund and Options for Financing Highway Spending
May 6, 2014With its current revenue sources, the Highway Trust Fund cannot support spending at the current rate. The fund’s projected shortfalls have generated increased interest in borrowing by state and local governments to finance highway projects.
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Unemployment Insurance in the Wake of the Recent Recession
November 28, 2012Between 2007 and 2010, unemployment benefits expanded nearly five-fold owing to high unemployment due to the weak economy, and decisions by policymakers to increase the number of weeks for which unemployed workers could receive benefits.
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Infrastructure Banks and Surface Transportation
July 12, 2012CBO analyzes an illustrative federal infrastructure bank for transportation—one that is representative of those in many recent proposals.
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Alternative Approaches to Funding Highways
March 23, 2011This study examines broad alternatives for federal funding of highways, focusing on fuel taxes and on taxes that could be assessed on the basis of the number of miles that vehicles travel.