On the Blog: More Data About the Cost of Bills

Two new features on the WashingtonWatch.com web site couldn’t be more timely. We’ve added new cost data, and we’ve begun displaying national debt information on the bills that have cost estimates.

The recent debt ceiling debate shows how important it is for Americans to be more aware of the national debt and the bills that add to it or subtract from it.

Read about how we’re trying to help in a post entitled: “New! More Cost Data and Better Debt Insight.”

Featured Item

Last week, Congress passed a debt ceiling deal, and President Obama quickly signed Public Law 112-25, the Budget Control Act of 2011.

The law raises the debt ceiling in various steps by $2.1 to $2.4 trillion. It sets spending caps amounting to about $917 billion in cuts over 10 years. And it creates a “Super Committee” charged with finding $1.2 trillion or more in deficit reduction. Inaction on any Super Committee recommendations would cause spending cuts totaling $1.2 trillion to occur. The bill spends $20 billion on Pell grants.

The new spending in the bill brings its cost per U.S. family to about $187.

P.L. 112-25
The Budget Control Act of 2011
Costs $187.00 per family

What People Think

The Budget Control Act of 2011 37% For, 63% Against Vote on this Bill

Displayed below are new, updated, and passed items with their cost or savings per family.

New Items

H.R. 2172
The Utilizing America’s Federal Lands for Wind Energy Act
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 899
The Nutria Eradication and Control Act of 2011
Costs $0.26 per family

H.R. 2171
The Exploring for Geothermal Energy on Federal Lands Act
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 2173
The Advancing Offshore Wind Production Act
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 1280
The Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act of 2011
Costs $0.21 per family

S. 270
The La Pine Land Conveyance Act
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 473
The HALE Scouts Act
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 404
A bill to modify a land grant patent issued by the Secretary of the Interior
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 818
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to allow for prepayment of repayment contracts between the United States and the Uintah Water Conservancy District
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 519
The Hoover Power Allocation Act of 2011
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 2072
The Securing American Jobs Through Exports Act of 2011
Costs $13.72 per family

H.R. 2170
The Cutting Federal Red Tape to Facilitate Renewable Energy Act
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 2273
The Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act
Costs $0.02 per family

H.R. 2552
The Identity Theft Improvement Act of 2011
Costs $0.00 per family

S. 512
The Nuclear Power 2021 Act
Costs $3.55 per family

S. 808
A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to allow for prepayment of repayment contracts between the United States and the Uintah Water Conservancy District
Costs $0.00 per family

Updated Items

S. 538
A bill to amend the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act to reauthorize the Act
Costs $0.26 per family

Passed Items

P.L. 112-25
The Budget Control Act of 2011
Costs $187.00 per family

P.L. 112-26
The Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act of 2011
Saves $0.04 per family

P.L. 112-27
The Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2011, Part IV