On the Blog: A Gigantic Mess

Last week, Congress passed a combined spending bill, and this week the “Super Commmittee” might or might not come up with $1.5 trillion in deficit reductions over 10 years.

It’s hard to follow, though, because of the way Congress works.

We talk about it in a post entitled: “Garbled into one Gigantic Mess.”

Featured Item

Congress is on a Thanksgiving recess this week.

Last week, Congress passed and the president signed H.R. 2112, the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012. The bill contained full-year spending for the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development. It continued spending on the rest of the government until December 16th.

Passage of H.R. 2112 spent about $4,700 per U.S. family.

H.R. 2112
The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012
Costs $4,739.82 per family

What People Think

The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012 29% For, 71% Against Vote on this Bill

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

New Items

S. 1535
The Personal Data Protection and Breach Accountability Act of 2011
Costs $0.53 per family

H.R. 2297
To promote the development of the Southwest waterfront in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 3012
The Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 2842
The Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act of 2011
Costs $0.04 per family

S. 1701
The Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2011
Costs $0.97 per family

H.R. 1550
The Federal Law Enforcement Recruitment and Retention Act of 2011
Costs $0.26 per family

S. 1430
The Maritime Administration Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012
Costs $1.79 per family

Updated Items

H.R. 10
The Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2011
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 441
The Kantishna Hills Renewable Energy Act of 2010
Costs $0.00 per family

H.R. 2112
The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2012
Costs $4,739.82 per family

Passed Items

P.L. 112-51
The Removal Clarification Act of 2011
Costs $0.00 per family

P.L. 112-52
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

P.L. 112-53
The Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011
Costs $154.76 per family

P.L. 112-54
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act of 2011
Costs $0.02 per family