Baseline Reform Act of 2015

To eliminate the automatic inflation increases for discretionary programs built into the baseline projections and require budget estimates to be compared with the prior year’s level. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Baseline Reform Act of 2015 2. Changes in the baseline Section 257(c) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 ( 2 U.S.C. 907(c) (1) in the second sentence of paragraph (1), by striking all that follows current year, excluding resources designated as an emergency requirement and any resources provided in supplemental appropriation laws. (2) by striking paragraphs (2), (3), (4), and (5); (3) by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (2); and (4) by inserting after paragraph (2), as so redesignated, the following: (3) No adjustment for inflation No adjustment shall be made for inflation or for any other factor. . 3. The President's budget (a) Expenditures and appropriations Section 1105(a)(5) of title 31, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: (5) except as provided in subsection (b), estimated expenditures and appropriations for the current year and estimated expenditures and proposed appropriations the President decides are necessary to support the Government in the fiscal year for which the budget is submitted and at least the 4 fiscal years following that year, and, except for detailed budget estimates, the percentage change from the current year to the fiscal year for which the budget is submitted for estimated expenditures and for appropriations. . (b) Receipts Section 1105(a)(6) of title 31, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: (6) (A) estimated receipts of the Government in the current year and the fiscal year for which the budget is submitted and at least the 4 fiscal years after that year under— (i) laws in effect when the budget is submitted; and (ii) proposals in the budget to increase revenues; and (B) the percentage change (in the case of each category referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A)) between the current year and the fiscal year for which the budget is submitted and between the current year and each of the 9 fiscal years after the fiscal year for which the budget is submitted. . (c) Legislative proposals Section 1105(a)(12) of title 31, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: (12) for each proposal in the budget for legislation that establishes or expands a Government activity or function a table showing— (A) (i) the amount proposed in the budget for appropriation and for expenditure because of the proposal in the fiscal year for which the budget is submitted; (ii) the estimated appropriation required because of the proposal for each of at least the 4 fiscal years after that year that the proposal will be in effect; and (iii) the estimated amount for the same activity or function, if any, in the current fiscal year; and (B) except for detailed budget estimates, the percentage change (in the case of each category referred to in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) of subparagraph (A)) between the current year and the fiscal year for which the budget is submitted. . (d) Comparisons Section 1105(a)(18) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting new budget authority and budget outlays (e) Expenditures and tables Section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, is amended— (1) by redesignating the second paragraph (37) (relating to a list of plans and reports) as paragraph (39); and (2) by adding at the end the following: (40) a comparison of levels of estimated expenditures and proposed appropriations for each function and subfunction in the current fiscal year and the fiscal year for which the budget is submitted, along with the proposed increase or decrease of spending in percentage terms for each function and subfunction. (41) a table on sources of growth in total direct spending under current law and as proposed in the budget submission for the budget year and at least the ensuing 9 fiscal years, which shall include changes in outlays attributable to— (A) cost-of-living adjustments; (B) changes in the number of program recipients; (C) increases in medical care prices, utilization and intensity of medical care; and (D) residual factors. . (f) Current programs Section 1109(a) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the first sentence the following: For discretionary spending, these estimates shall assume the levels no higher than those set forth in the discretionary spending limits under section 251(c) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 ( 2 U.S.C. 901(c) 4. The congressional budget Section 301(e) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 ( 2 U.S.C. 632(e) (1) in paragraph (1), by adding at the end the following: The basis of deliberations in developing such joint resolution shall be the estimated budgetary levels for the preceding fiscal year. Any budgetary levels pending before the committee and the text of the joint resolution shall be accompanied by a document comparing such levels or such text to the estimated levels of the prior fiscal year. (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) in subparagraph (E), by striking and (B) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (C) by adding at the end the following: (G) a comparison of levels for the current fiscal year with proposed spending and revenue levels for the subsequent fiscal years and the proposed increase or decrease of spending in percentage terms for each function. . 5. Congressional budget office reports to committees (a) Comparable levels Section 202(e)(1) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 ( 2 U.S.C. 602(e)(1) compared to comparable levels for the current year (b) Sources of spending growth Section 202(e)(1) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 ( 2 U.S.C. 602(e)(1) Such report shall also include a table on sources of spending growth in total direct spending, revenue, deficit, and debt for the budget year and the ensuing 4 fiscal years, which shall include changes in outlays attributable to (A) cost-of-living adjustments, (B) changes in the number of program recipients, (C) increases in medical care prices, utilization and intensity of medical care, and (D) residual factors. (c) Comparison of levels Section 308(a)(1)(B) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 ( 2 U.S.C. 639(a)(1)(B) and shall include a comparison of those levels to comparable levels for the current fiscal year , if timely submitted

Summary: Baseline Reform Act of 2015 This bill amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 and the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 to change the assumptions used in calculating the baseline for discretionary spending and to require budget estimates to be compared with the levels from the prior year. The baseline is a projection of federal spending and receipts during the fiscal year under current law. This bill changes the assumptions used for the discretionary spending baseline to eliminate adjustments required under current law for inflation, expiring housing contracts, social insurance administrative expenses, pay adjustments, and changes to other personnel benefits. The bill prohibits adjustments for inflation or any other factor. The President's budget must include: (1) comparisons of the proposed budgetary levels with the prior year's levels, (2) the sources of growth in direct spending under current law and as proposed in the budget, and (3) estimates of discretionary spending for current programs that assume compliance with discretionary spending limits under current law. The congressional budget committees must use budgetary levels from the prior fiscal year as the basis for deliberations in developing the congressional budget resolution and include comparisons with the prior fiscal year in the report accompanying the resolution. The Congressional Budget Office must include additional details in required reports to Congress, including comparisons to the prior year and the sources of growth in spending.