Rachel Snyderman
Appearances
Planet Money
Can the president override Congress on spending?
Well, the distinction with Nixon is also the frequency and the scope at which he impounded funds. I mean, in 1973, he impounded nearly one third of all discretionary spending.
Planet Money
Can the president override Congress on spending?
And really refresher of, you know, what are the real checks and balances when it comes to the federal budget process as we head into a very busy year for fiscal policy and, of course, a new administration.
Planet Money
Can the president override Congress on spending?
When he impounded funds, there were several court challenges that went even all the way up to the Supreme Court. And the courts were repeatedly upholding the fact that the president did not have the authority to unilaterally make decisions about spending money.
Planet Money
Can the president override Congress on spending?
Yeah, so they cannot do it alone. The president must, they must go through the process and work with Congress.
Planet Money
Can the president override Congress on spending?
The president can choose to defer temporary delay certain spending if they have the explicit intent that they are going to spend all of that funding within the fiscal year.
Planet Money
Can the president override Congress on spending?
If Congress chooses to do nothing or does not approve that package as a whole or in part, that funding must then be released to federal agencies and spent. So Congress decides still. Congress decides, yes. And throughout this entire time, the Government Accountability Office is serving as the external watchdog to make sure that this is happening.
Planet Money
Can the president override Congress on spending?
George H.W. Bush utilized this authority. President Clinton, President Reagan did, too. So there really is precedent.
Planet Money
The Big Government Money Pipe Freeze
The premise of this is that the United States is the largest supplier of open data.
Planet Money
The Big Government Money Pipe Freeze
Before that time, there was really no single way to track government spending across agencies. And it made it really difficult to use data to inform evidence-based policy decisions.
Planet Money
The Big Government Money Pipe Freeze
We're really asking the government to open its checkbook every day and to show us what's coming in and what's coming out. That's extraordinary access the public has. And I think it demonstrates the values that our government does place on transparency and communication.