Number: RL34149
Title: House Rules Changes Affecting the Congressional Budget Process Made at the Beginning of the 110th Congress
Authors: Bill Heniff, Jr., Government and Finance Division 
Abstract: On January 5, 2007, the House agreed to H.Res. 6, adopting the standing rules for the 110th Congress. The changes to the congressional budget process include (1) prohibiting the consideration of a budget resolution containing reconciliation directives that would increase the deficit or reduce the surplus; (2) applying points of order under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to the text of a measure considered by the House regardless of whether or not the measure was reported by a committee; (3) requiring the disclosure of congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, and limited tariff benefits in a bill or report, along with the names of the sponsors; and (4) prohibiting the consideration of direct spending and revenue legislation that is projected to increase the deficit or reduce the surplus in either of two specified time periods. In addition to these standing rules changes, the House agreed to several separate orders that clarify the applicability of certain points of order under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, deem the FY2007 budget resolution adopted by the House in the 109th Congress to have been agreed to by the 110th Congress for budget enforcement purposes, and continue a point of order established in the 109th Congress that supplements the enforcement of the appropriations subcommittees' allocations.
Pages: 17
Date: August 30, 2007